TWO-DIMENSIONAL MODELING OF A DC ARC PLASMA FURNACE WITH OPPOSITE CATHODE AND ANODE

摘要

In this paper, a two-dimensional modeling is conducted concerning the effects of different operation parameters, such as the arc current (I) and the distance between two electrodes (L), on the heat transfer and flow patterns inside a DC arc plasma furnace with opposite cathode and anode. The modeling results show that due to the injection of the cold plasmaforming gas in opposite directions from the cathode and anode sides, a stagnation layer is formed between the electrodes when an appropriate combination of the arc current (I) and the plasma-forming gas flow rate (Q) is employed for a specified gap distance (L). The predicted position of the stagnation layer, which is defined as the location with zero axial velocity at the arc axis, moves toward the anode with increasing the arc current. And the gas temperature at the stagnation point increase with the increase of the arc current or the decrease of the distance between electrodes.