Session BB2.2

2:00 PM BB2.2
CLOSED LOOP FEEDBACK CONTROL OF THE THERMAL SPRAY PROCESS. J.R. Fincke, W.D. Swank, D.C. Haggard, Optical and Plasma Physics, Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID.

The implementation of closed-loop control requires the direct real-time monitoring of process performance, via real-time sensing of particle temperature and velocity and the taking of corrective actions rather than the traditional approach of setting process variables and post process examination. A real-time digital controller which is capable of setting and maintaining particle velocity and temperature at designated set points is developed and demonstrated on a plasma spray process. the ability to adjust particle impact velocity over a range of 80-120 m/s while maintaining a constant particle temperature, and to vary particle temperature by 500 K while maintaining a constant particle velocity are demonstrated.