In this study, a multiple cathodes arc plasma generator was employed for the preparation of spherical tungsten powder. The annular and axisymmetric cathode configuration of the generator allowed for axial powder feeding. The investigation focused on the effect of the powder feed rate, power and plasma composition on the powder spheroidization rate using experimental and numerical modelling approach. The experimental results showed that the spheroidization rate increased significantly, when the powder feed rate decreased from 30 to 5 g/min, and the spheroidization rate was more than 95% at 5 g/min. The spherical tungsten powders prepared in this torch had good flowability, high apparent density, and uniform particle diameter distribution. A three-dimensional local thermal equilibrium model was used to analyze the temperature and the velocity field in the arc plasma generator. The results of numerical simulation showed that the arc plasma in the multi-cathode generator had high temperature and low velocity, and the powders had good trajectory in the axial direction. In summary, multi-cathode arc generators have great potential in tungsten powder spheroidization.

本研究采用多阴极电弧等离子体发生器制备球形钨粉。发生器的环形和轴对称阴极配置允许轴向送粉。研究的重点是使用实验和数值模拟方法对粉末进料速率、功率和等离子体成分对粉末球化速率的影响。实验结果表明，当送粉速度从30降低到5 g/min时，球化率显着提高，在5 g/min时球化率达到95%以上。该炬管制备的球形钨粉流动性好，表观密度高，粒径分布均匀。采用三维局部热平衡模型分析了电弧等离子体发生器中的温度场和速度场。数值模拟结果表明，多阴极发生器中的电弧等离子体温度高、速度低，粉末在轴向上具有良好的轨迹。综上所述，多阴极电弧发生器在钨粉球化方面具有很大的潜力。