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Electrode erosion in plasma torches

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Abstract

Cathode erosion rates are reported (or copper electrodes in a simulated plasma torch operating at atmospheric pressure. The are current was 100A (or most experiments; the magnetic field used to move the arc varied between 0.001 and 0.15 T. Different plasma gases were used (Ar, He, air, N2, CO, and mixtures of the noble gases with O2, N2, CO, CH4, Cl2, and H2S) at flow rates varying between 0.2 and 20 liters/min. Different criteria (arc velocity, arc attachment residence time, arc current density) were used to analyze the erosion results.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plasma Technology Research Centre, Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, H3A 2A7, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    R. N. Szente, R. J. Munz & M. G. Drouet

  2. Plasmas Industriels, LTEE, Hydro Quebec, P.O. Box 1000, JOL 2P0, Varennes, Quebec, Canada

    M. G. Drouet

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  1. R. N. Szente
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  2. R. J. Munz
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  3. M. G. Drouet
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Szente, R.N., Munz, R.J. & Drouet, M.G. Electrode erosion in plasma torches. Plasma Chem Plasma Process 12, 327–343 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01447029

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01447029

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