The reattachment process in nonequilibrium arc simulations

The reattachment process is an essential part of the dynamics of thermal plasma flows. Simulations of the flow inside a direct-current arc plasma torch performed with a two-temperature model produce a reattachment process triggered by local flow instabilities and driven by local high electric fields and electron temperatures. These results indicate that an arc reattachment can occur not only due to a breakdown of the gas surrounding the plasma but also due to the macroscopic characteristics of the flow, and these emphasize the importance of nonlocal thermodynamic equilibrium-based models to properly describe arc dynamics.