MASS-TRANSFER IN INDUCTION PLASMA REACTORS

A theoretical and experimental study of mass transfer and mixing betwe en a cold jet and a plasma stream is presented for an induction plasma reactor. The concentration profiles of a tracer gas (cold jet), injec ted axially in the main flow of the plasma, are measured along the cen terline of the reactor. Through the application of a turbulent numeric al model, concentration, temperature and flow fields are computed. By comparing the measured concentration profiles and the results of the m odelling study, it is possible to deduce an effective mass diffusivity for the tracer gas in the mixture and thus calibrate the mathematical model. This work represents a first step in the study of diffusion an d mass transfer phenomena under plasma conditions.