Swirling Annular Flow Experiments with Application to Plasma Torches
Abstract
Swirling flows have many applications such as combustors and cyclone separators. Here, a turbulent swirling annular cold-flow experiment is conducted in order to gain insight into conditions within a plasma cutting torch. Compressed air is forced through six circumferentially-spaced holes that impart tangential velocity to the flow at the annulus inlet. The flow subsequently traverses an annulus of L/D1 =1.8 before exiting through a sonic nozzle. The annulus (created by a cylindrical cathode in the center of the actual plasma torch) is viewable through an outer plexiglass cylinder in our 11:1 scaled-up cold-flow apparatus. Surface oil-flow visualization and laser sheet imaging are employed to investigate the annular flowfield at a Reynolds number of about 1000 based on gap width D2-D1. Results of these experiments, leading to a physical model of the flowfield, are shown. These results are helpful in understanding and improving the fluid-dynamic behavior of actual plasma torches, widely used to cut sheet metal in manufacturing. Supported by Hypertherm Inc.
- Publication:
-
APS Division of Fluid Dynamics Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- November 2001
- Bibcode:
- 2001APS..DFD.FE004F