Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
Ic
N)(
r
0
2
)
(
1
) {\displaystyle \phi _{B}=(\mu _{0}\,I_{c}\,N)(\pi \,r_{0}^{2})\quad (1)}
where,
B {\displaystyle \phi _{B}}
is the flux of magnetic field,
0
{\displaystyle \mu _{0}}
is permeability constant
4
10
7
Wb/A.m
{\displaystyle 4\pi \,10^{-7}\,{\textrm {Wb/A.m}}}
,
I c {\displaystyle I_{c}}
is the coil current,
N {\displaystyle N}
is the number of coil turns per unit length, and
r
0
{\displaystyle r_{0}}
is the mean radius of the coil turns.
According to Faradays Law, a variation in magnetic field flux will induce a voltage, or
electromagnetic force:
E=N(B/t)
(
2
) {\displaystyle E=-N(\Delta \phi _{B}/\Delta t)\quad (2)}
where,
N {\displaystyle N}
is the number of coil turns, and the item in parenthesis is the rate at which the flux is changing.
The plasma is conductive (assuming a plasma already exists in the torch). This electromagnetic
force, E, will in turn drive a current of density j in closed loops. The situation is much similar to
heating a metal rod in the induction coil: energy transferred to the plasma is dissipated via Joule
2
heating, j R, from Ohms Law, where R is the resistance of plasma.
Since the plasma has a relatively high electrical conductivity, it is difficult for the alternating
magnetic field to penetrate it, especially at very high frequencies. This phenomenon is usually
described as the skin effect. The intuitive scenario is that the induced currents surrounding each
magnetic line counteract each other, so that a net induced current is concentrated only near the
periphery of plasma. It means the hottest part of plasma is off-axis. Therefore, the induction
plasma is something like an annular shell. Observing on the axis of plasma, it looks like a bright
bagel.
introduced along with the sheath gas line, rather than the central gas line.
The industrial application of induction plasma technology[edit]
Following the evolution of the induction plasma technology in laboratory, the major advantages of
the induction plasma have been distinguished:
Without the erosion and contamination concern of electrode, due to the different plasma
generation mechanism compared with other plasma method, for example, direct current
non-transfer arc (dc) plasma.
The possibility of the axial feeding of precursors, being solid powders, or suspensions, liquids.
This feature overcomes the difficulty of exposing materials to the high temperature of
plasma, from the high viscosity of high temperature of plasma.
Because of non electrode problem, a wide versatile chemistry selection is possible, i.e., the
torch could work in either reductive, or, oxidative, even corrosive conditions. With this
capability, induction plasma torch often works as not only a high temperature, high
enthalpy heat source, but also chemical reaction vessels.
Relatively long residence time of precursor in the plasma plume (several milliseconds up to
hundreds milliseconds), compared with dc plasma.
Relatively large plasma volume.
These features of induction plasma technology, has found niche applications in industrial scale
operation in the last decade. The successful industrial application of induction plasma process
depends largely on many fundamental engineering supports. For example, the industrial plasma
torch design, which allows high power level (50 to 600 kW) and long duration (three shifts of 8
hours/day) of plasma processing. Another example is the powder feeders that convey large
quantity of solid precursor (1 to 30 kg/h) with reliable and precise delivery performance.
Nowadays, we have been in a position to be able to numerate many examples of the industrial
applications of induction plasma technology, such as, powder spheroidisation, nanosized
[6][7]
powders synthesis, induction plasma spraying, waste treatments, etc.,
However, the most
impressive success of induction plasma technology is doubtless in the fields of spheroidisation
and nano-materials synthesis.
[8]
Powder spheroidisation [edit]
introduced into induction plasma, and melted immediately in the high temperatures of plasma.
The melted powder particles are assuming the spherical shape under the action of surface
tension of liquid state. These droplets will be drastically cooled down when fly out of the plasma
plume, because of the big temperature gradient exciting in the plasma. The condensed spheres
are thus collected as the spheroidisation products.
A great variety of ceramics, metals and metal alloys have been successfully
spheroidized/densified using induction plasma spheroidisation. Following are some typical
materials spheroidized on commercial scale.
Oxide ceramics: SiO2, ZrO2, YSZ, Al2TiO5, glass
Non-oxides: WC, WC-Co, CaF2, TiN
Metals: Re, Ta, Mo, W
Alloys: Cr-Fe-C, Re-Mo, Re-W
Nano-materials synthesis[edit]
It is the increased demand for nanopowders that promotes the extensive research and
development of various techniques for nanometric powders. The challenges for an industrial
application technology are productivity, quality controllability, and affordability. Induction plasma
technology implements in-flight evaporation of precursor, even those raw materials of the highest
boiling-point; operating under various atmospheres, permitting synthesis of a great variety of
nanopowders, and thus become much more reliable and efficient technology for synthesis of
nanopowders in both laboratory and industrial scales. Induction plasma used for nanopowder
synthesis has many advantages over the alternative techniques, such as high purity, high
flexibility, easy to scale-up, easy to operate and process control.
In the nano-synthesis process, material is first heated up to evaporation in induction plasma, and
the vapours are subsequently subjected to a very rapid quenching in the quench/reaction zone,
The quench gas can be inert gases such as Ar and N2 or reactive gases such as CH4 and NH3,
depending on the type of nanopowders to be synthesized. The nanometric powders produced are
usually collected by porous filters, which are installed away from the plasma reactor section.
Because of the high reactivity of metal powders, special attention should be given to powder
pacification prior to the removal of the collected powder from the filtration section of the process.
The induction plasma system has been successfully used in the synthesis nanopowders. The
typical size range of the nano-particles produced is from 20 to 100 nm, depending on the quench
conditions employed. The productivity varies from few hundreds g/h to 3~4 kg/h, according to the
different materials' physical properties. A typical induction plasma nano-synthsize system for
industrial application is shown below. The photos of some nano-product from the same
equipment are included.
Gallery[edit]
The flaky interlocking rhenium powders become dense separate spheres after the induction