About features of the plasma flow structure in the channel of an inductively-coupled RF plasmatron with axial gas feed

A numerical model for calculating the parameters of the inductively-coupled RF plasmatron (ICP) with gas cooling was presented. Numerical simulations were performed in the ANSYS CFX (14.5) application package for one of the specific design of technological options ICP with a three-coil inductor and a current amplitude in the range of Jk - 50-170 A (3 MHz). The argon works as a plasma gas in the ICP. The features of the distribution of the velocity field in the channel of the plasma torch, namely, the formation of a toroidal vortex flow with the center section around the first turn of the inductor was described in our works. It was found that the forms of a vortex flow occur when the discharge current exceeds critical value. The main reason for the formation of the vortex is the influence of a radial component of the electromagnetic force, which causes the areas of increased pressure on the axis of the plasma torch in the middle zone of the inductor. The influence of the discharge current, the speed (flow) of transporting gas through the axial channel and its length on the intensity of the vortex tube has been studied.