Effects of surrounding gas on the long laminar argon plasma jet characteristics

Comparative study is performed concerning the characteristics of long laminar argon plasma jets issuing into argon or into air surroundings. It is shown that when argon, instead of air, is used as the surrounding gas, besides pure argon atmosphere can be formed, the mass flow rate of surrounding gas entrained into the plasma jet and the length of jet high-temperature region increase but the gas specific enthalpy decreases in the downstream region of the plasma jet.