Visualization and Diagnostics of Thermal Plasma Flows

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Boulos, M.I.

Affiliations: Plasma Technology Research Center (CRTP), Department of Chemical Engineering, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke (Québec) J1K 2R1, Canada.

Abstract: Flow visualization is a key tool for the study of thermal plasma flows. Because of their high temperature and associated self emission, standard and high speed photography is commonly used for flow and temperature field visualization. Tracer techniques through the injection of a seed powder in the plasma flow have also been often used for the study of flow structure. Shadowgraphs and Schlieren techniques have been used particularly when cold flow regions are present in the close proximity of the plasma discharge. They also provide key information about the flow structure in the fringes of the discharge. Laser strobe techniques are commonly used for the characterization of particle trajectories under plasma conditions. A brief review is presented of available plasma and particulate diagnostic techniques with detailed measurements reported for a radio frequency (r.f.) induction plasma discharge using enthalpy probe techniques.

Keywords: thermal plasma flows, induction plasma, d.c. plasma jet, photographic techniques, schlieren, laser strobe, enthalpy probe techniques

Journal: Journal of Visualization, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 19-28, 2001