WATER-STABILIZED PLASMA GENERATORS

Plasma torches with liquid-stabilized arcs provide an alternative to c ommonly used sources of thermal plasmas based on gas-stabilized arcs o r RF discharges. Relatively long are columns can be stabilized by liqu id walls under very low mass flow rates through the torch chamber. Thi s leads to high values of plasma temperature and enthalpy. In water-st abilized torches, oxygen-hydrogen plasma jet is produced with extremel y high plasma enthalpy and flow velocity. Plasma torches with water-st abilized are provide special performance characteristics in some plasm a processing applications like plasma spraying or waste treatment. Phy sical processes which determine propel-ties of generated plasma are di scussed and basic characteristics of water plasma torch are presented in the paper.