Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 July 1999
Anode for a non-transferred DC plasma spray torch was designed to improve electrothermal efficiency. A theoretical calculation was made for the electrothermalefficiency in a DC plasma torch operating with argon at atmospheric pressure withpower level in the range of 5.2–20 kW using energy balance equations. ANOVA for thetwo level factorial design was done. Plasma gas flow rate, current intensity,nozzle diameter and length were found to influence the efficiency. The efficiencywas found to decrease with increase in current intensity and nozzle length and toincrease with increase in nozzle diameter and gas flow rate. The overall energy balance calculations showed that the heat transfer to the plasma-forming gas decreases with increase in arc current and the same was moresignificant at higher flow rates. Plasma jet velocity for different flow rates, input to the torch and nozzle dimensions was calculated from the gas enthalpy. Itwas found that the velocity increased with increase in the power input to the torchand gas flow rate and decreased with increase in nozzle length and diameter. The current–voltage characteristics of the torch operating with argon gas were studied for different gas flow rates. The Nottingham coefficients were calculated using least – square method.