Simulation of flow field and particle trajectory of radio frequency inductively coupled plasma spheroidization

• Published in: Computational materials science 2012-12, Vol.65, p.13-18
• Main Authors: Lu, Xin, Zhu, Lang-ping, Zhang, Bing, Zhang, Rui-jie, He, Xin-bo, Qu, Xuan-hui
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Flow field; Materials science; Particle trajectory; Phase diagrams and microstructures developed by solidification and solid-solid phase transformations; Physics; Powder collection rate; Powder spheroidization; Precipitation; Radio frequency plasma; Simulation
• ISSN: 0927-0256; 1879-0801
• DOI: 10.1016/j.commatsci.2012.06.008

► We model the argon flow field of inductively coupled plasma spheroidization system. ► The trajectories of the injected TiAl alloy powder particles were simulated. ► After passing through the flow field, the particle collection rates were predicted.. With customized CFD commercial code FLUENT software, the numerical simulation of the argon flow field of inductively coupled plasma spheroidization system was performed by using κ–ε turbulent model and PISO pressure–velocity coupling algorithm. The injected TiAl alloy powder particle trajectories were simulated by using dispersed particle group trajectory model (DPM), and after passing through the argon flow field the particle collection rates of the powders with different particle sizes were predicted. The results show that the simulation values of the powder collection rates and granulometric parameters of the spheroidized powders are close to the experimental data, which indicates the numerical simulation of the argon flow field and injected TiAl alloy powder particle trajectories of inductively coupled plasma spheroidization system is reliable.