Influence of the Shape of the Gas Swirler Channels in a Plasma-Forming Gas Supply System on the Parameters of a Plasma Jet

Plasma equipment is widely used for depositing functional coatings, producing powders, and modifying product surfaces. In turn, the parameters of a plasma jet depend on the configuration of a plasma torch internal channel. The influence of the plasma torch components, which affect the temperature and velocity of a plasma jet, and its turbulence intensity should be considered. Among the plasma torch components forming the internal channel, the shape of the gas swirler in the gas supply system plays a special role. In this work, we compare three design versions of the gas swirlers included in the plasma-forming gas inlet unit of a plasma torch. The following swirler shapes widely used in industrial practice are chosen: with radial, tangential, and spiral channel configurations. The aim of this work is to determine the influence of the gas swirlers on the parameters of a plasma jet. The parameters of a plasma jet to be analyzed are the velocity, the temperature, and the turbulence intensity. The scientific novelty of this investigation lies in performing a comparative analysis of swirlers of different configurations. In addition, the influence of a swirler with a spiral channel configuration in the form of an Archimedean spiral is analyzed. The importance of this investigation lies in developing recommendations for the manufacturers and consumers of plasma torch equipment. The recommendations have been developed with allowance for the advantages and disadvantages of each of the three considered design versions of gas swirlers for coating deposition, powder production, and surface modification by plasma. A computer model has been developed and described, and its adequacy is confirmed by a full-scale experiment. The set problem is solved by creating an adequate computer model for a plasma installation to predict the parameters of a plasma jet. This problem is solved using a finite element method.