A novel radio frequency inductively coupled plasma (RF-ICP) torch has been designed for powder processing with a significant improvement in performance and throughput. The torch features a unique conical geometry which leads to reduced gas and power consumption. Computer simulations in ANSYS Fluent were conducted to model the injection of powder particles into the plasma discharge produced by the RF-ICP torch. The results were used to optimize the conical torch and compare its performance to a conventional RF-ICP torch. It was found that the new conical torch achieves particle spheroidization ratios up to 2 times higher than the conventional torch, due to higher temperatures and an induction zone closer to particles. Additionally, the torch runs at 42% lower gas consumption and can achieve industrially acceptable spheroidization ratios at half the power level of the conventional torch. The results were found to be in good agreement with previous works. This novel design has the potential to provide significant monetary savings and increased productivity to industries currently using RF torches, and potentially attract new industries which can benefit from this technology.

一种新型射频电感耦合等离子体 (RF-ICP) 炬管专为粉末加工而设计，在性能和产量方面有显着改进。割炬具有独特的锥形几何形状，可减少气体和电力消耗。在 ANSYS Fluent 中进行计算机模拟以模拟粉末颗粒注入 RF-ICP 炬产生的等离子体放电中。结果用于优化锥形炬管，并将其性能与传统 RF-ICP 炬管进行比较。结果表明，由于温度较高且感应区更靠近颗粒，新型锥形炬管实现的颗粒球化率比传统炬管高出高达 2 倍。此外，该炬管的气体消耗量降低了 42%，并且可以以传统炬管一半的功率水平实现工业上可接受的球化率。发现结果与以前的工作非常吻合。这种新颖的设计有可能为目前使用射频手电筒的行业节省大量资金并提高生产力，并有可能吸引可以从这项技术中受益的新行业。