Plasma torch and its associated MHD fields using the FLUENT code

Summary form only given. Reported studies dealing with the mathematical modeling of the r.f. inductively coupled plasma provide information about 2D flow, temperature and species concentration as well as electromagnetic fields in the discharge. The majority of the proposed models require, however, a lengthy iterative process to converge, where sometimes several thousands of iterations can be needed. In order to speed up the calculation and increase the flexibility of the model, the CFD code FLUENT is used. The later is based on the solution of the Navier-Stokes equations using the control volume method of Patankar. User defined subroutines are added to the code to implement the vector potential equation and the source terms, as Lorentz force, radiation and joule heating acting on the plasma. Subroutines are also implemented to allow thermodynamics and transport properties to be function of temperature and pressure. The torch is modeled by a fully axisymmetric configuration. A laminar flow field is assumed, for an optically thin plasma under local thermodynamic equilibrium. The inductor is represented by a series of parallel current ring. In the present study, emphasis is placed on the formulation of the MHD induction equation where the electromagnetic fields are not limited to the torch itself, but extend well beyond the torch.