Development of a new OpenFOAM solver for plasma cutting modelling

A new OpenFOAM solver is presented, for the simulation of plasma cutting torches. The mathematical model that is introduced is based on the compressible Navier-Stokes equations coupled via source terms to the electric current conservation equation. Due to the conservative and hyperbolic nature of the model, a Godunov-type scheme is used for the first time in the context of plasma cutting simulation. The numerical method consists of a second-order Total Variation Diminishing (TVD) integration with flux Harten-Lax-van Leer-Contact (HLLC) Riemann solver for the flow conservation equations, coupled with a Laplace solver for the current conservation equation. An efficient formulation for the equation of state, accurately taking into account the plasma properties, is also presented. The solver is validated through a set of canonical test cases (shock tubes and 2D Riemann problems) and it is used to simulate a three-dimensional plasma cutting torch. Good agreement is found with the literature, with an improvement in the ability to deal with the shocks occurring during plasma cutting.

Nicolas Godinaud, Pierre Boivin, Pierre Freton, Jean-Jacques Gonzalez, Frédéric Camy-Peyret. Development of a new OpenFOAM solver for plasma cutting modelling. Computers and Fluids, Elsevier, In press, ⟨10.1016/j.compfluid.2022.105479⟩. ⟨hal-03661919⟩

Journal: Computers and Fluids

Date de publication: 01-01-2022

Auteurs:

Digital object identifier (doi): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compfluid.2022.105479


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