Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a plasma arc cutting torch and an electrode assembly used in the torch. The electrode assembly includes a high thermionic emissive insert and a high thermally conductive and high work function shell into which the insert is inserted. The shell aids in cooling the insert during operation and also has a design which ensures that the shell remains in a proper position during manufacture of the electrode assembly.

Disclosed herein are methods and apparatuses for adding thermal energy to a glass melt. Apparatuses for generating a thermal plasma disclosed herein comprise an electrode, a grounded electrode, a dielectric plasma confinement vessel extending between the two electrodes, and a magnetic field generator extending around the dielectric plasma confinement vessel. Also disclosed herein are methods for fining molten glass comprising generating a thermal plasma using the apparatuses disclosed herein and contacting the molten glass with the thermal plasma. Glass structures produced according to these methods are also disclosed herein.

A gas treating apparatus may include a reaction chamber configured to process a gas supplied from an outside by a plasma, the processed gas containing a nitrogen oxide, and a nitrogen oxide reduction apparatus connected to the reaction chamber. The nitrogen oxide reduction apparatus includes a cooling unit configured to cool the processed gas to a temperature lower than a nitrogen oxide generation temperature.

A gas treating apparatus may include a reaction chamber configured to process a gas supplied from an outside by a plasma, the processed gas containing a nitrogen oxide, and a nitrogen oxide reduction apparatus connected to the reaction chamber. The nitrogen oxide reduction apparatus includes a cooling unit configured to cool the processed gas to a temperature lower than a nitrogen oxide generation temperature.

A plasma arc torch system comprising a plasma arc torch is provided. The torch includes an electrode, a nozzle, a vent passage and a shield. The nozzle is spaced from the electrode to define a plasma chamber therebetween. The plasma chamber is configured to receive a plasma gas. The vent passage, disposed in the nozzle body, is configured to divert a portion of the plasma gas exiting the plasma chamber from a nozzle exit orifice. The shield is spaced from the nozzle to define a flow region therebetween. The flow region is configured to (i) receive a liquid and (ii) expel the liquid along with a plasma arc substantially surrounded by the liquid via a shield exit orifice.

Reduced scale nozzles for current loads of up to 400 A to be used in a liquid-cooled dual-gas plasma torch. The plasma flow passes through aperture in nozzle in direction. Aperture is divergent and expands in direction of the plasma flow. Aperture is of a conical shape at point, radius shape at point, and elliptic shape at point. Following its narrowest section, aperture expands at angle in direction of the plasma flow. Diameter at the end of aperture is larger than diameter at its beginning. Nozzle is equipped with mounting surface for insertion into the adapter. Nozzle contains seal, which prevents passage of a liquid and gas through the connection between nozzle and the adapter, which also provides attachment to the plasma torch.

Reduced scale nozzles for current loads of up to 400 A to be used in a liquid-cooled dual-gas plasma torch. The plasma flow passes through aperture in nozzle in direction. Aperture is divergent and expands in direction of the plasma flow. Aperture is of a conical shape at point, radius shape at point, and elliptic shape at point. Following its narrowest section, aperture expands at angle in direction of the plasma flow. Diameter at the end of aperture is larger than diameter at its beginning. Nozzle is equipped with mounting surface for insertion into the adapter. Nozzle contains seal, which prevents passage of a liquid and gas through the connection between nozzle and the adapter, which also provides attachment to the plasma torch.

An air cooled inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) is disclosed. The interface structure has a configuration that it can rapidly transfer heat away from the front surface of the interface that is exposed to a high temperature plasma, while maintaining heat in the ion beam to avoid recombination and clustering. The air cooled interface of the present system comprises of a set of fins for rapid heat transfer, which may be placed along the sides of the ICP-MS systems in a variety of orientations. Open-cell metal foam is also used to increase heat transfer efficiency. The system may be cooled by natural convention or forced convection using one or more air fans.

An air cooled inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) is disclosed. The interface structure has a configuration that it can rapidly transfer heat away from the front surface of the interface that is exposed to a high temperature plasma, while maintaining heat in the ion beam to avoid recombination and clustering. The air cooled interface of the present system comprises of a set of fins for rapid heat transfer, which may be placed along the sides of the ICP-MS systems in a variety of orientations. Open-cell metal foam is also used to increase heat transfer efficiency. The system may be cooled by natural convention or forced convection using one or more air fans.

The present disclosure relates to a thermal plasma processing apparatus capable of efficiently using thermal plasma and securing a reaction time for the thermal decomposition of the processing gas. A Thermal plasma processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a torch part in which an arc is generated between a negative electrode and a positive electrode, and in which a processing gas to be thermally decomposed by the arc is injected between the negative electrode and the positive electrode, a power supply part configured to be connected to the negative electrode and the positive electrode and to apply a high voltage between the negative electrode and the positive electrode, and a reaction part configured to communicate with the torch part and to generate turbulence in the processing gas passing through the torch part.