Three-dimensional non-equilibrium modeling of a DC multi-cathode arc plasma torch

In this paper, a three-dimensional non-equilibrium steady arc model is used to investigate the temperature, velocity and electromagnetic field in multi-cathode arc torch, and the formation mechanism of a large-area, uniform and diffused arc plasma is analyzed. The numerical simulation results show that a large volume plasma region can be formed in the central region of the generator during discharge. During this process, the maximum electron temperature appears near the cathode and in the central convergence region, while the maximum heavy particle temperature only appears in the central convergence region. This phenomenon is consistent with the experimental arc images. Near the cathode tip, the arc column is in a contraction state. In the area slightly away from the cathode, the six arc columns begin to join together. In the plasma generator, there is a large-scale current distribution in all directions of X, Y and Z, forming a stable arc plasma with a wide range of diffusion. The calculated electron temperature distribution is in good agreement with the measured electron temperature. The results suggest that the largearea diffused arc plasma in the multi-cathode arc torch is the combined effect of current distribution, convection heat transfer and heat conduction.     

Radiation effects on heat and mass transfer in MHD stagnation-point flow over a permeable flat plate with thermal convective surface boundary condition,temperature dependent viscosity and thermal conductivity

We study a steady laminar 2-D MHD viscous incompressible flow over a permeable flat plate with thermal convective boundary condition and radiation effects. The viscosity and thermal conductivity of fluid are assumed to vary linearly with temperature. Similarity representation of the governing partial differential equations is obtained via group method. Similarity equations are then solved numerically by implicit finite difference technique. Effects of convective heat transfer parameter (b), radiation parameter (R,) magnetic field parameter (M), the thermal conductivity parameter (S), suction parameter (fw), Prandtl number (Pr) and Schmidt number (Sc) on the dimensionless axial velocity, temperature, concentration, wall temperature, the rate of heat transfer and the rate of mass transfer are investigated. Good agreement is found between the numerical results of the present paper with published result for special case.     

Reflux condensation of flowing vapor and non-condensable gases counter-current to laminar liquid film in a vertical tube

An analytical model using the heat and mass transfer analogy approach was developed for local heat transfer in reflux condensation of flowing vapor and non-condensable gases counter-current to laminar liquid film in a vertical tube. The liquid film model was derived from the two-phase integral momentum equations for counter-current flow. The non-condensable gas effect was accounted for using the diffusion layer theory. The momentum, heat and mass transfer for the liquid and gas phases are coupled together by the shear stress, temperature and gas mass fraction at the two-phase interface, which together with the unknown vapor flow conditions at the outlet of the tube were solved iteratively. The model anticipates that vapor might not necessarily condense completely inside the tube. The root mean square of the theory's relative error is 30% compared with available experimental data. The model provides a mechanism for the safety analysis codes to evaluate reflux condensation in the presence of non-condensable gases.     

Comparative Observation of Ar, Ar-H2 and Ar-N2 DC Arc Plasma Jets and Their Arc Root Behaviour at Reduced Pressure

Results observed experimentally are presented, about the DC arc plasma jets and their arc-root behaviour generated at reduced gas pressure without or with an applied magnetic field. Pure argon, argon-hydrogen or argon-nitrogen mixture was used as the plasma-forming gas. A specially designed copper mirror was used for a better observation of the arc-root behaviour on the anode surface of the DC non-transferred arc plasma torch. It was found that in the cases without an applied magnetic field, the laminar plasma jets were stable and approximately axisymmetrical. The arc-root attachment on the anode surface was completely diffusive when argon was used as the plasma-forming gas, while the arc-root attachment often became constrictive when hydrogen or nitrogen was added into the argon. As an external magnetic field was applied, the arc root tended to rotate along the anode surface of the non-transferred arc plasma torch.     

超临界压力区域失压瞬态传热特性数值研究

采用Ansys Fluent 15.0开展水工质在超临界压力区域失压瞬态传热特性的数值研究。通过对比分析计算结果与实验数据,建立了合理的并适用于超临界压力区域失压瞬态工况的数值模拟方法。数值计算结果表明,在模拟的近临界点瞬态工况参数下,实验段出口流体参数已超过该工况的拟临界点参数,但该参数仍处于物性参数急剧变化的拟临界点附近区域,实验段流体从入口区域的不可压缩流动转变为出口区域的可压缩流动,且拟临界点处的质量流速和压降梯度出现峰值。瞬态工况计算结果与Jackson公式计算结果对比分析表明,在临界点附近区域Jackson公式计算的努塞尔数比本文计算的努塞尔数高出20%~50%。      

不同运行工况下蒸汽发生器热工水力稳态特性数值研究

基于相似模化理论建立了蒸汽发生器一、二回路流体及传热管流 固耦合传热的单元管三维物理模型,对大亚湾核电厂蒸汽发生器不同工况下的热工水力稳态特性进行了数值模拟研究。采用热相变模型描述二回路汽液两相流动与换热、流-固耦合模型描述一回路冷却剂借助U型管与二回路流体换热。数值计算结果表明：满负荷运行时,传热管内壁温度变化趋势与一次侧流体基本一致,外壁温度与二次侧流体温度变化趋势相同;截面平均含汽率沿传热管高度的升高呈上升趋势,出口质量含汽率与大亚湾核电厂实际运行参数相符;随负荷降低一回路出口温度基本不变,二回路出口温度升高,质量含汽率及传热系数下降,平均传热系数与Rohsenow经验关联式的计算结果基本吻合。     

Comparative analysis of the arc characteristics inside the converging-diverging and cylindrical plasma torches

A two-temperature thermal non-equilibrium model is used to simulate and compare the arc characteristics within the converging-diverging and traditional cylindrical plasma torches.The modeling results show that the presence of the constrictor within the converging-diverging torch makes the evolution characteristics of the arc significantly different from that of cylindrical torch.Compared with a cylindrical geometrical torch,a much higher plasma flow velocity and relatively longer high temperature region can be generated and maintained inside the converging-diverging torch.In the constrictor of converging-diverging torch,the normalized radius of arc column increases and the degree of thermodynamic equilibrium of the plasma is significantly improved with the increase of axial distance.The radial momentum balance analysis shows that for the cylindrical torch,the pressure gradient that drives the arc expansion and the Lorentz force that drives the arc contraction dominate the radial evolution of the arc.While at the converging and constrictor region of a converging-diverging plasma torch,the radial gas dynamic forces in arc fringes pointing toward the arc center enhance the mixing of the cold gas of boundary layer with the high temperature gas of the arc center,increasing the average gas temperature and decreasing the thickness of cold boundary layer,thereby facilitating the formation of diffusion type arc anode attachment at the diverging section of torch.     

Separate effects tests for condensation and evaporative heat transfer models

The computer program, under development at NAI for EPRI, is a general purpose thermal hydraulics computer program for design, licensing, safety and operating analysis of nuclear containments and other confinement buildings. The code solves a nine-equation model for three-dimensional multiphase flow with separate mass, momentum and energy equations for vapor, liquid and drop phases. The vapor phase can be a gas mixture of steam and non-condensing gases. The phase balance equations are coupled by mechanistic and empirical models for interface mass, energy and momentum transfer that cover the entire flow regime from bubbly flow to film-drop flow. A variety of heat transfer correlations are available to model the fluid coupling to active and passive solid conductors.This paper focuses on the application of to two separate effects tests: condensation heat transfer on a vertical flat plate with varying bulk velocity, steam concentration and temperature, and evaporative heat transfer from a hot pool to a dry (superheated) atmosphere. Comparisons with experimental data are included for both tests. Results show the validity of two condensation heat transfer correlations as incorporated into GOTHIC and the interfacial heat and mass transfer models for the range of the experimental test conditions. Comparisons are also made for lumped vs. multidimensional modeling for buoyancy-controlled flow with evaporative heat transfer.     

Heat Transfer Performance of High Temperature and High Velocity Hydrogen Flow inside Circle Tube

In order to investigate the thermo-hydraulic characteristics of working fluids in the coolant channel of nuclear thermal propulsion reactors, the flow and heat transfer performance of high temperature and high velocity hydrogen in the circle tube was studied by the numerical calculation method. Comparing with the experimental data, it is found that the pressure-based coupled algorithm, SST k-ω turbulence model and hydrogen property model are reasonable and feasible to simulate the flow and heat transfer performance of hydrogen at high temperature and high velocity. The calculated values agree well with the experimental data, and the numerical simulation model is correct. Based on the analysis of flow and temperature field of the base case, the effects of thermal parameters on the flow and heat transfer performance of hydrogen were also studied. The increasing inlet mass flow rate enhances heat transfer performance and the increasing heat flux weakens it. The methods and results can provide some references and guidance for the study of the flow and heat transfer performance of gaseous fluid under high temperature and high heat flux, and thermal design and simulation of nuclear thermal propulsion reactor.     

Separate effects tests for gothic condensation and evaporative heat transfer models

The gothic computer program, under development at NAI for EPRI, is a general purpose thermal hydraulics computer program for design, licensing, safety and operating analysis of nuclear containments and other confinement buildings. The code solves a nine-equation model for three-dimensional multiphase flow with separate mass, momentum and energy equations for vapor, liquid and drop phases. The vapor phase can be a gas mixture of steam and non-condensing gases. The phase balance equations are coupled by mechanistic and empirical models for interface mass, energy and momentum transfer that cover the entire flow regime from bubbly flow to film-drop flow. A variety of heat transfer correlations are available to model the fluid coupling to active and passive solid conductors.This paper focuses on the application of gothic to two separate effects tests: condensation heat transfer on a vertical flat plate with varying bulk velocity, steam concentration and temperature, and evaporative heat transfer from a hot pool to a dry (superheated) atmosphere. Comparisons with experimental data are included for both tests. Results show the validity of two condensation heat transfer correlations as incorporated into GOTHIC and the interfacial heat and mass transfer models for the range of the experimental test conditions. Comparisons are also made for lumped vs. multidimensional modeling for buoyancy-controlled flow with evaporative heat transfer.     

高温、高流速氢气在圆管内流动换热特性研究

为探究工质在核热推进反应堆冷却剂通道内的热工水力行为,基于数值计算方法,开展了圆管内高温、高流速氢气流动换热特性研究。通过与实验数据对比发现,采用压力基耦合算法、SST k-ω湍流模型以及物性模型进行高温、高流速氢气流动换热特性数值模拟是合理可行的,计算值与实验值符合较好,计算模型选择正确。在分析基础工况流场与温度场的基础上,还研究了热工参数对氢气管内流动换热特性的影响,结果表明,随质量流量的增大换热效果增强,随热流密度的增大换热效果变差。研究方法与结果可为高温、高热流密度环境下气体工质流动换热特性研究、核热推进反应堆的热工设计与仿真模拟提供参考。     

基于流热固耦合的核电蒸汽发生器传热管热应力数值模拟

以大亚湾核电站蒸汽发生器为原型,基于相似模化原理建立了蒸汽发生器简化物理模型。采用两流体模型及热弹性力学基本关系式分别描述气液两相流沸腾相变过程和热应力变化规律。利用CFX对一、二回路侧流体流动传热及与传热管的耦合换热过程进行了数值模拟,并在ANSYS WORKBENCH中实现了流体温度场载荷向结构的传递,进而对传热管进行稳态热分析和热应力分析。计算结果表明：二回路出口质量含汽率为24.5%,冷却剂出口温度为296.2 ℃,均与大亚湾蒸汽发生器实际运行参数相符;传热管热应力与其壁面温差分布一致,且沿壁厚方向先减小后增大,并存在中性层,传热管最大热应力为54.5 MPa。研究结果为蒸汽发生器的优化设计及安全运行提供了一定的理论支撑。     

Diffusion layer modeling for condensation in vertical tubes with noncondensable gases

Noncondensable gases significantly modify the mechanism of condensation for cocurrent downward flow in vertical tubes. Two-dimensional experimental measurements presented here show similarity between gas concentration distributions and the temperature distributions encountered in laminar and turbulent heat transfer. Thus the analogy between heat and mass transfer, coupled with a reasonable condensate film model, can provide predictions of the local condensation rate. This work presents a simple 9-step iterative calculation procedure for calculating the local heat flux. The empirical model, based on a modified Dittus-Boelter formulation and utilizing an effective condensation thermal conductivity, converges with 2 to 10 iterations at each axial location. Experimental results from several investigators are compared with the predictions of the model, with good agreement.     

Design and characteristics of a new type laminar plasma torch for materials processing

Laminar plasma jet(LPJ) generated by laminar plasma torch(LPT) has a favorable temperature and velocity distribution. Thus, it is superior to the turbulent plasma jet in material processing.However, most of the reported LPTs usually operate at a relatively low output power with a relatively low arc voltage and thermal efficiency, which limits its capabilities. In this context, this paper attempts to design a new type of high-power LPT with a relatively low arc current and a high thermal efficiency. In the first section, the design principle of the main components is studied and discussed in detail, and a new high-power LPT is proposed. Then, the experimental characteristics of the proposed high-power LPT are examined. Experimental results reveal the following characteristics of the proposed LPT.(1) The max jet length of the proposed LPT reaches at 540 mm.(2) Its mean arc voltage is higher than 290 V when the LPT works with arc currents lower than 200 A, leading to an output power greater than 50 kW.(3) The mean thermal efficiency is higher than 50%. Lastly, the proposed LPT has been applied to spheroidize the aluminum oxide powers. The experiment results for the production of spherical powders show that the proposed LPT has a good characteristic for material processing.     

Simulation of the Effects of Several Factors on Arc Plasma Behavior in Low Voltage Circuit Breaker

Taking into account the properties of the arc plasma and the electromagnetic, heat and radiative phenomena, commercial computational fluid dynamics software PHOENICS has been adapted and modified to develop the three-dimensional magneto-hydrodynamic （MHD） model of arc in a low voltage circuit breaker. The effects of the arc ignition location, venting size and gassing material on arc behavior have been investigated. The analysis of the results show that the arc velocity accelerates with the increase in the distance between arc ignition location and of the venting size, and the existence of the gassing material is beneficial to improving the arc voltage and reducing the arc temperature.     

Decomposition of Nitrogen Trifluoride Using Low Power Arc Plasma

The low power arc plasma is characterized by extremely high enthalpy and temperature and it is easy to generate and control,and thus thermal decomposition process based on the plasma torch is receiving a great attention for decomposing non-degradable greenhouse gases.In order to elevate the economic feasibility,the efects of input power,waste gas flow rate and additive gases on the destruction and removal efciency(DRE) of NF3 are examined.Specific energy density(SED) deceases as the flow rate increases,and accordingly,the DRE is reduced.The DRE is basically determined by the specific energy density.The highest DRE of NF3 was 97% for the waste gas flow rate of 100 L/min at a low input power level of 2 kW with the help of hydrogen additional gas.The inlet and outlet concentration of NF3 was analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR) for DRE of NF3 evaluation.As a result,large amount of NF3 can be efciently decomposed by low power arc plasma systems.     

树脂超临界水氧化反应器设计及数值模拟

超临界水氧化技术是处理废树脂的途径之一,能够快速、有效处理核电站产生的含放射性核素的废离子交换树脂。本文提出了一种新型的超临界水氧化反应器,并采用计算流体动力学方法,建立了以多孔介质模型为基础的树脂颗粒非均相反应与均相反应耦合的反应器模型,对其中的流动、换热及化学反应过程进行了数值模拟研究。结果表明,各工况下有机物均完全转化为二氧化碳,各工况均能满足生产要求;随加热功率增加,反应物料出口温度、流域最高温度、压降与出口速度均逐渐增加。     

Non-Intrusive Magneto-Optic Detecting System for Investigations of Air Switching Arcs

In current investigations of electric arc plasmas, experiments based on modern testing technology play an important role. To enrich the testing methods and contribute to the understanding and grasping of the inherent mechanism of air switching arcs, in this paper, a nonintrusive detecting system is described that combines the magneto-optic imaging（MOI） technique with the solution to inverse electromagnetic problems. The detecting system works in a sequence of main steps as follows： MOI of the variation of the arc flux density over a plane, magnetic field information extracted from the magneto-optic（MO） images, arc current density distribution and spatial pattern reconstruction by inverting the resulting field data. Correspondingly, in the system, an MOI set-up is designed based on the Faraday effect and the polarization properties of light, and an intelligent inversion algorithm is proposed that involves simulated annealing（SA）.Experiments were carried out for high current（2 kA RMS） discharge cases in a typical low-voltage switchgear. The results show that the MO detection system possesses the advantages of visualization, high resolution and response, and electrical insulation, which provides a novel diagnostics tool for further studies of the arc.     

核热推进系统氢气物性及流动换热模型分析

为开展关于核热推进反应堆堆芯的稳态热工水力计算,基于现有针对压水堆的系统分析程序,添加了氢气的物性模型及流动换热和摩擦阻力关系式,并采用公开文献中的数据进行验证。结果表明采用上述模型计算得到的结果与参考值符合较好,二次开发的程序适用于氢气的流动换热计算。针对一种折流式核热推进反应堆堆芯,使用该系统程序建模并计算,得到了堆芯的流量、焓升等分布情况。研究结果表明,对于折流式核热推进反应堆,内外堆芯燃料元件之间的导热会增强堆芯释热不均,对堆芯的稳态热工水力特性有较大影响,堆芯物理方案的设计应结合热工水力方面的计算。本研究可为核热推进系统内氢气流动换热计算提供借鉴。     

Evaporation Erosion During the Relay Contact Breaking Process Based on a Simplified Arc Model

Evaporation erosion of the contacts is one of the fundamental failure mechanisms for relays.In this paper,the evaporation erosion characteristics are investigated for the copper contact pair breaking a resistive direct current (dc) 30 V/10 A circuit in the air.Molten pool simulation of thc contacts is coupled with the gas dynamics to cMculate the evaporation rate.A simplified arc model is constructed to obtain the contact voltage and current variations with time for the prediction of the current density and the heat flux distributions flowing from the arc into the contacts.The evaporation rate and mass variations with time during the breaking process are presented.Experiments are carried out to verify the simulation results.