Numerical modelling of plasma spray process

Reproduction of the coating quality in the plasma spraying is tough task. To overcome this problem, it is necessary to understand the behaviour of the arc inside the torch, plasma jet and particles in a plasma jet. Various experimental and modelling works have been carried out on these topics. In this article, a few of our new results of plasma arc inside the torch are presented and some of our simulated results of plasma jets and particle behaviour in a plasma jet are summarized. Electro-thermal efficiencies predicted using two different models are close to the measured one. The effect of atmosphere, where the plasma jet is issued, on temperature field is stronger than on velocity field. The influence of the carrier gas and particle loading on the plasma jet thermo-fluid fields is discussed. The effects of particle loading and turbulence modulation on the particle velocity and temperature are clarified. Turbulence modulation does not affect the particle dispersion significantly.