Plasma Cutting of Concrete: Heat Propagation and Molten Material Removal From the Kerf.
Date
2019
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Abstract
An experimental investigation of heat propagation
in the case of plasma cutting of concrete is reported. The
experiments were carried out by using a high-enthalpy nitrogen
plasma jet generated in a dc vortex-stabilized nontransferred
arc torch. Concrete plates of different thicknesses up to 52 mm
and with and without steel reinforcement were used. The plates
were placed horizontally while cutting. The heat conduction losses
inside the material were estimated by comparing thermocouple
measurements and theoretical temperatures obtained with an
analytical model of the heat propagation in the material. The
influence of the molten concrete layer that separates the plasma to
the solid material due to the high viscosity of the liquid concrete
was accounted for. The power losses below the material in the
extinguishing plasma have also been determined from calorimet ric measurements. For different plate thicknesses and cutting
velocities, a complete power balance of the process is performed
with the calculation of the cutting efficiency on the basis of
various relevant power terms. In addition, the hydrodynamics
of the molten concrete layer in the kerf is analyzed. For a mean
power level of 11.2 kW and a nitrogen gas flow rate of 25 Nl/min,
the torch is able to cut a concrete plate of 52 mm in thickness
with a speed of 20 mm/min and a whole efficiency of about 30%.
The viscosity force is the main limiting factor on the cutting
velocity in thick plates.
Description
Keywords
Concrete., Nontransferred arc torch., Plasma cutting.
Citation
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON PLASMA SCIENCE.
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