Simulation results of an inductively-coupled rf plasma torch in two and three dimensions for producing a metal matrix composite for nuclear fuel cladding

摘要

I propose to develop a new method for the synthesis of metal matrix composites(MMC) using aerosol reactants in a radio frequency (RF) plasma torch. An inductivelycoupledRF plasma torch (ICPT) may potentially be designed to maintain laminar flowand a radial temperature distribution. These two properties provide a method by which asuccession of metal layers can be applied to the surface of SiC fibers. In particular, theenvisaged method provides a means to fully bond any desired metal to the surface of theSiC fibers, opening the possibility for MMCs in which the matrix metal is a highstrengthsteel.A crucial first step in creating the MMC is to test the feasibility of constructingan ICPT with completely laminar flow in the plasma region. In this work, amagnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model is used along with a computational fluid dynamic(CFD) software package called FLUENT? to simulate an ICPT. To solve theelectromagnetic equations and incorporate forces and resistive heating, several userdefinedfunctions (UDF) were written to add to the functionality of FLUENT?. Initially,an azimuthally-symmetric, two-dimensional model was created to set a test baseline foroperating in FLUENT? and to verify the UDF. To incorporate coil angle and currentleads, a fully three dimensional model UDF was written. Preliminary results confirm thefunctionality of the code. Additionally, the results reveal a non-mixing, laminar flowouter region for an axis-symmetric ICPT.