The present application relates to a plasma atomization process and apparatus for producing metallic powders from at least one wire/rod feedstock. In the process, an electric arc is applied to the at least one wire/rod feedstock to melt the same. A plasma torch is employed to generate a supersonic plasma stream at an apex at which the electric arc is transferred to the at least one wire/rod feedstock to atomize the molten wire/rod feedstock into particles. A downstream cooling chamber solidifies the particles into the metallic powders. An anti-satellite diffuser is employed to prevent recirculation of the powders in order to avoid satellite formation. In an apparatus where two wires are fed, one wire serves as an anode, and the other as a cathode.

A torch for use in analytic instruments includes a tube subassembly with substantially cylindrical nested inner and outer tubes with coincident central axes, the inner tube having a terminus. The torch also includes a removable injector extending at least partially in the inner tube and having an alignment feature, an inlet, an outlet, and a central axis that is coincident with the central axes of the inner and outer tubes, a seal having a channel for accommodating a portion of the injector, and a base for supporting the tube subassembly, injector, and seal. The seal has a complementary feature to engage the alignment feature of the injector to prevent axial misalignment of the injector and maintain a fixed gap between the terminus of the inner tube and the outlet of the injector.

A torch for use in analytic instruments includes a tube subassembly with substantially cylindrical nested inner and outer tubes with coincident central axes, the inner tube having a terminus. The torch also includes a removable injector extending at least partially in the inner tube and having an alignment feature, an inlet, an outlet, and a central axis that is coincident with the central axes of the inner and outer tubes, a seal having a channel for accommodating a portion of the injector, and a base for supporting the tube subassembly, injector, and seal. The seal has a complementary feature to engage the alignment feature of the injector to prevent axial misalignment of the injector and maintain a fixed gap between the terminus of the inner tube and the outlet of the injector.

The present disclosure relates to a cold plasma generating apparatus that can efficiently ignite (initially discharge) cold plasma and easily match common impedance and that is optimized for use in applications related to sterilization because it can uniformly distribute power to multiple plasma sources through a single power supply in a multi-plasma array configuration and increase effective plasma volume, and a multi-cold plasma array apparatus comprising the same.

Methodologies, systems, and devices are provided for producing metal spheroidal powder products. Dehydrogenated and spheroidized particles are prepared using a process including introducing a metal hydride feed material into a plasma torch. The metal hydride feed material is melted within a plasma in order to dehydrogenate and spheroidize the materials, forming dehydrogenated and spheroidized particles. The dehydrogenated and spheroidized particles are then exposed to an inert gas and cooled in order to solidify the particles into dehydrogenated and spheroidized particles. The particles are cooled within a chamber having an inert gas.

Methodologies, systems, and devices are provided for producing metal spheroidal powder products. Dehydrogenated and spheroidized particles are prepared using a process including introducing a metal hydride feed material into a plasma torch. The metal hydride feed material is melted within a plasma in order to dehydrogenate and spheroidize the materials, forming dehydrogenated and spheroidized particles. The dehydrogenated and spheroidized particles are then exposed to an inert gas and cooled in order to solidify the particles into dehydrogenated and spheroidized particles. The particles are cooled within a chamber having an inert gas.

A ballast transformer and system using the ballast transformer to couple power to a plasma load. The ballast transformer has a magnetic core, a first primary winding on a primary side of the magnetic core, a secondary winding on a secondary side of the magnetic core, and a second primary winding connected in series with the first primary winding and wound in proximity to the secondary winding on the secondary side of the magnetic core. The first primary winding is connectable to the AC power source, and the secondary winding is connectable to the plasma load via a coaxial cable.

A ballast transformer and system using the ballast transformer to couple power to a plasma load. The ballast transformer has a magnetic core, a first primary winding on a primary side of the magnetic core, a secondary winding on a secondary side of the magnetic core, and a second primary winding connected in series with the first primary winding and wound in proximity to the secondary winding on the secondary side of the magnetic core. The first primary winding is connectable to the AC power source, and the secondary winding is connectable to the plasma load via a coaxial cable.

A membrane plate assembly is disclosed for use with a cold atmospheric plasma applicator to expose a medium to plasma beams from the plasma applicator. The membrane plate assembly includes a membrane plate stack configured to receive the plasma beams from the plasma applicator. The membrane plate stack includes a plurality of membrane-covered structures facing each other in a generally parallel arrangement and being spaced apart to define a channel therebetween through which the plasma beams are directed. Each membrane-covered structure includes a structure and a membrane covering outer surfaces of the structure with a gap therebetween through which the medium is flowed.

A ballast transformer and system using the ballast transformer to couple power to a plasma load. The ballast transformer has a magnetic core, a first primary winding on a primary side of the magnetic core, a secondary winding on a secondary side of the magnetic core, and a second primary winding connected in series with the first primary winding and wound in proximity to the secondary winding on the secondary side of the magnetic core. The first primary winding is connectable to the AC power source, and the secondary winding is connectable to the plasma load via a coaxial cable.