Complementary experimental and theoretical approaches to the determination of the plasma characteristics in a cutting plasma torch

In this paper, a cutting plasma torch is studied. We show how experimental and theoretical approaches are complementary for a full characterization of the plasma due to its specific parameters: high temperature, shock wave, pumping of surrounding gas, high velocity. Classical measurement methods cannot be used and two original methods are proposed: the first in the shock wave, where the pressure is unknown, and the second 11.2 mm from the nozzle exit, where the plasma composition depends on the pumping of ambient air. By using a back and forth approach between the theory and experiment, all the plasma characteristics can be estimated. The shock wave location is well predicted and temperatures around 18 kK are obtained in the shock wave and around 14 kK near the anode.