Certain embodiments described herein are directed to induction devices that can be used to sustain a plasma. In certain configurations, the induction device may comprise one or more radial fins electrically coupled to a base. The induction device may take numerous forms including, for example, coils and plate electrodes.

A plasma chemical reactor including an anode having a generally cylindrical shape and an axis of rotational symmetry; a cathode inside the anode and co-axial with the anode; a hot plasma channel between the between the anode and the cathode; a gas input module providing gas flow into the anode; a gas output module at a distal end of the anode; and a high voltage power supply providing with a current in a range of 0.1-1.0 A. The high voltage power supply provides a voltage to the cathode in a range of 0-5 kV, a power of at least 1 kW, and a voltage/current ratio of at least 1000 V/A.

In some aspects, torch receptacles for coupling a plasma arc torch to a torch lead can include: a body having a first end to connect to the torch lead and a second end to connect to a torch body; a set of ports within the first end to fluidly connect to a set of fluid conduits within the torch lead; and a multiway valve within the body and fluidly connected to the set of ports and to a torch gas conduit formed in the second end, the multiway valve being configured to: i) manipulate a flow of fluids between the first end and the second end to select from primary gases entering the set of ports, ii) deliver a selected primary gas to the torch body through the torch gas conduit, and iii) fluidly connect the torch gas conduit to a gas supply manifold of the plasma cutting system.

A consumable cartridge frame for a liquid-cooled plasma arc torch is provided. The consumable cartridge frame includes an insulator body configured to be disposed between a torch head and a cartridge tip. The consumable cartridge also includes a first cooling channel, disposed in the body, configured to conduct a first fluid flow received from the torch head to contact a component of the cartridge tip connected to the cartridge frame. The consumable cartridge further includes a first return channel, disposed in the body, configured to conduct at least a portion of the first fluid flow from the component to the torch head. The first cooling channel and the first return channel are non-concentric in relation to a central longitudinal axis of the body.

A plasma torch having an open end from which a plume of plasma or plasma effluent, for use in therapeutic treatment of tissue in vivo, preferably skin and/or wounds, is emitted in use. The plasma torch comprising: a cathode rod; and a grounded conductive tube having at least one opening and being arranged around the cathode and spaced therefrom to form a cavity in which, in use, an arc discharge between the cathode and grounded conductor ionizes a feed gas to produce a thermal plasma, the plasma or effluent being emitted in a plume from the opening of the grounded conductor. The opening of the grounded conductor tube comprises a lip, the inwardly facing surface of which defining an orifice, the orifice having a length to an opening width ratio of at least 2.5:1.

A plasma processing system includes a torch having a consumable. A gas pressure regulator includes an input pressure sensor configured to sense an input pressure to the gas pressure regulator. A gas conduit supplies gas from the gas pressure regulator to the torch. A controller is operatively connected to the gas pressure regulator to receive an input pressure signal from the input pressure sensor and to provide a control signal to the gas pressure regulator to control operations of the gas pressure regulator and set an output pressure of the gas pressure regulator. The controller is configured to identify the consumable based on both of the input pressure to the gas pressure regulator and the control signal provided to the gas pressure regulator.

A gas supply system is provided for a gas-cooled plasma arc material processing system. The gas supply system includes a gas pressure control valve disposed relative to a gas-cooled plasma arc torch in the plasma arc material processing system and a gas selector valve fluidly connected to (i) at least two gas supplies and (ii) a torch lead coupled to the plasma arc torch. The gas selector valve located upstream from both the torch lead and the gas pressure control valve. The gas supply system also includes a switching device operably connected to the gas selector valve. The switching device is configured to manipulate a position of the gas selector valve to supply a gas from one of the at least two gas supplies to the plasma arc torch via the lead.

A plasma torch system and method is provided, in which the system utilizes a number of pressure sensors throughout the system and the torch to detect the flow/pressure of shield and plasma gas during operation. The detected pressures are used by the system to dynamically control the system pressures to optimize the cutting operation.

A method of using a coolant tube in a liquid cooled plasma arc torch is provided. The method includes installing the coolant tube and a first electrode in the plasma arc torch. The method also includes biasing, by a first coolant flow, a biasing surface of the coolant tube against the first electrode, such that the coolant tube translates axially along the longitudinal axis to contact the first electrode. The biasing by the first coolant flow defines a first distance in an axial direction between the O-ring of the coolant tube and a proximal end of the first electrode. The method further includes removing the first electrode from the plasma arc torch and installing a second electrode in the torch. The method includes biasing, by a second coolant flow, the biasing surface of the coolant tube against the second electrode, such that the coolant tube translates axially along the longitudinal axis to contact the second electrode. The biasing by the second coolant flow defines a second distance in an axial direction between the O-ring of the coolant tube and a proximal end of the second electrode. A difference between the first distance and the second distance is at least about 0.25 inches.

The invention relates to a device for thermally coating a surface, which has at least one housing (6), a cathode (9), a primary gas distributor (11), a secondary gas distributor (12), electrically and thermally acting insulation elements (13, 14, 16), and an anode, which is designed as a consumable wire and is guided into a nozzle (19, 21) by means of a wire guide (18), wherein the nozzle (19, 21) is mounted in a centered manner and has openings (23) arranged radially in one plane on one of its sides (22).