Multiphysics Modeling and Simulation of an Arc-Jet Sprayer

Twin wire arc spraying (TWAS) is a plasma spraying process that offers low workpiece heating and high deposition rates at a lower cost. Variations in TWAS process conditions cause the substrate temperature to fluctuate and even melt. Therefore, the motivation of this project was to simulate the heat transfer from the TWAS torch to the substrate during spraying and layer formation of a coating. Simulations using ANSYS FLUENT Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software were used to model the heat transfer in a TWAS system. The results of this paper are meant to augment and improve the database of TWAS technology. A CFD numerical heat transfer model is presented that was used to investigate the substrate surface temperature during the TWAS process. The results for the different pressure models showed that for a 3 second simulation, substrate surface temperatures increased as nozzle inlet pressure was decreased. For the upper and lower bound pressures of 75 psia and 29 psia, substrate surface temperature resulted in 946 °C and 1010 °C, respectively.

Mechanical and Microstructural Properties of Post-Treated Zn4Al Sprayed Coatings Using Twin Wire Arc Spraying

Metal structures in offshore facilities are usually protected from corrosion using Zn-Al coatings even though they are subjected to collective stress conditions. This paper evaluates a post-treatment called machine hammer peening and its effect on surface finish, induced residual stresses, and near-surface microstructure of thermally sprayed ZnAl4 coatings. As expected, coating roughness was reduced from about Rz = 53.5 μm in the as-sprayed condition to 10.4 μm after treatment and coating densification was revealed in the near-surface zone. Residual stresses, which were surprisingly compressive in the as-sprayed condition, were likewise affected by the peening process, reaching a maximum of 200 MPa. The influence of peening direction and other such parameters were also investigated as part of the study.

Ni-5wt% Al Coatings Deposited by Twin Wire Arc Spraying for Molten Aluminum Attack Protection

Nickel-aluminum alloys are widely used in harsh environments due to their corrosion resistance, high melting temperature, and thermal conductivity. In this work, Ni-5wt%Al coatings were deposited by twin-wire arc spraying (TWAS) on tool steel using a design of experiments approach to study the effect of process parameters on coating microstructure and performance. Test results presented in the form of process maps show how N2 pressure, stand-off distance, and current affect in-flight particle velocity and temperature as well as coating thickness and oxide content. Using this information, optimized coatings were then deposited on test substrates and subjected, along with uncoated tool steel, to several hours of molten aluminum attack. The coated samples showed no signs of physical or chemical damage, whereas the uncoated substrates experienced oxidation, aluminum infiltration, and formation of Fe-Al intermetallics.

CFD Study of Particle and Compressible Flow Interaction for a Twin Wire Arc Spraying System

Plasma spraying is used in various industries for additive manufacturing applications to apply materials onto a workpiece. Such applications could be for the purpose of repair, protection against corrosion, wear-resistance, or enhancing surface properties. One plasma spraying method is the twin wire arc spraying (TWAS) process that utilizes two electrically conductive wires, across which an electric arc is generated at their meeting point. The molten droplets that are created are propelled by an atomizing gas towards a substrate on which the coating is deposited. The TWAS process offers low workpiece heating and high deposition rates at a lower cost compared to other plasma spraying techniques. As the spray angle for this technique is relatively large (15 degree half angle), particles are lost in the process, lowering the yield of deposited material. The motivation of this project was to constrict the particle flow and reduce the loss of particles that are ejected by the spraying torch. Torch nozzles were designed to help the particle trajectory match the axial flow direction of the atomizing gas flow. Simulations using ANSYS FLUENT Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software was utilized to model both the atomizing gas flow and particle flow for a TWAS system. Various nozzle configurations with arc jet angles between 30–75 degrees showed only small effects on gas flow velocity and shape, with no significant variations in particle flow. These results indicate that nozzle configurations are only one factor in determining particle trajectory, and that phase changes and heat transfer need to be considered as well.