%0 Journal Article %A Jodoin, Bertrand %A Proulx, Pierre %D 2001 %I Begell House %N 1 %P 24 %R 10.1615/HighTempMatProc.v5.i1.90 %T DESIGN STUDY OF A SUPERSONIC DIRECT CURRENT PLASMA TORCH %U https://www.dl.begellhouse.com/journals/57d172397126f956,0c4bb49272de39f7,5a52764d6ca20867.html %V 5 %X To address the problem of studying the effects of the torch design on a supersonic argon-hydrogen plasma flow, a mathematical model is developed and validated with published experimental work. The model predicts the aerodynamics, thermal and electric fields inside the torch and includes a non-equilibrium cathode sheath model. The theoretical results reveal that supersonic and subsonic plasma torches have different behaviors. It is concluded that the design of supersonic torches should not be based on subsonic torch designs. The model is also used as a tool to evaluate the operating parameters, namely the electric power and chamber critical pressure, that should be used for various torch designs in order to obtain a shock free supersonic plasma jet. %8 2001-03-01