Effects of induction coil parameters of plasma torch on the distribution of temperature and flow fields

Abstract

This paper aims to disclose how the induction coil parameters affects the temperature and flow fields of the inductively coupled plasma (ICP) torch. For this purpose, a numerical model was established for the balanced discharge of the ICP torch based on COMSOL Multiphysics, and used to simulate the effects of coil spacing and induction wire diameter on the distribution of temperature and flow fields. The results show that a ring-shaped high-temperature area will form inside the ICP torch, regardless of the values of coil parameters; the smaller the coil spacing, the faster for the working medium in the torch to generate the high-temperature, high-velocity area; the smaller the induction wire diameter, the slower for the working medium in the torch to generate the high-temperature, high-velocity area. The research results provide a reference for the optimization of the ICP torch.

Keywords

• Inductively coupled plasma (ICP) torch
• Numerical simulation
• Coil parameters
• Balanced discharge