Employment of electric torch discharge and a steam-gas generator in surface schooping of materials

Subject and Purpose. The present paper is concerned with the method of surface schooping of materials using high-frequency torch discharge (HFTD) and glycerol vapor as a base for dissolving activating additives to the working gas. To approach the problem, a steam generator is employed in an effort to improve the HFTD catalytic performance in the activation of surfaces and deposition of coatings on them. The purpose is to develop a design technique of a steam generator intended for making a proper gas environment in the HFTD burning area. The discussed design techniques seek to enhance efficiency of the self-contained steam generator with allowance for its small size compared to the wavelength.

Methods and Methodology. The analysis of the glycerol vapor behavior in the HFTD plasma depends on the knowledge of glycerol molecule ionization potential in the electron impact case. To find out about the measure to which the glycerol vapor affects the HFTD current, a known calcium ionization potential is used as a defined point. The heating elements as part of the steam generator are designed in terms of thermal design methodology adopted in the electroheating machine making. The calculation formulas of the running time ratios of the steam generator with various heating elements and energy efficiencies have been obtained in terms of galvanic cell theory.

Results. It has been shown that glycerol vapor itself cannot affect the HFTD current. For the HFTD excitation, the microwave region has been chosen. In cooperation with activating additives to the discharge plasma, this factor also adds to the HFTD current increase. Hence, the HFTD catalytic performance depends not only on the HFTD energy and its excitation field frequency but on the glycerol-dissolved additives as well. A special design has been developed for the heating element as part of a small-size steam generator. Reference tables have been composed, enabling one to pick up a prpoper diameter and number of parallel connected wires in the spiral coil.

Conclusion. A good use of glycerol vapor as a base for vaporous fluxes and activating additives to the HFTD working gas has been shown. The developed design technique concerning the heating element of the steam generator optimizes its heating circuit. Specifically, it enhances the steam generation and reduces the power consumption of the steam generator running on the galvanic cell. Second, it makes it possible to use stainless-steel spiral heating coils in regime of automatic temperature control.