Disclosed is a demountable tube for a plasma torch assembly, such as an ICP torch assembly. The tube includes an open tubular body for radially surrounding a plasma within the tubular body. The tubular body may comprise a wall; and a mounting feature projecting from the tubular body for at least one of: (i) controlling alignment of the tubular body with respect to a mounting portion of the torch assembly, and (ii) releasably securing the tubular body to a portion of the torch assembly. The tubular body may also have a transmission zone that is partially devoid of said wall and includes at least one hole through said wall. The tube may be opaque. A plasma torch and ICP spectroscopy system are also disclosed.

Connecting parts for a processing head for thermal material processing, comprises a body that extends along a longitudinal axis having an outer face, an inner face, a front end, and a rear end; and the inner face or the outer face has a slot, extending in the circumferential direction, with each slot having a slot depth and a slot bottom, wherein the slot bottom exhibits, around the circumference, different distances extending through the longitudinal axis and perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis between the opposite portions of the slot bottom, and one inner face or outer face exhibits, around the circumference, different distances, extending through the longitudinal axis and perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis, between the opposite portions of the inner face or outer face.

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 connection system connects a plasma torch to a generator to allow the passage of electric current, the passage of an operating fluid, and of one or more control signals between the generator and the torch. The system includes a first connector and a second connector that are removably connected to each other. The first connector includes a first current-carrying terminal and the second connector having a second current-carrying terminal. The current-carrying terminals are suited to be mutually connected to each other. The first connector includes one or more electric terminals. The second connector includes one or more electric terminals, the connectors being suited to be mutually connected to each other. In the first connector, the electric terminals are movable with respect to the first terminal.

A torch tip assembly of a plasma arc torch is provided for delivering a diffused stream of plasma arc in a gouging operation. The assembly comprises a nozzle including a nozzle body defining a central longitudinal axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end. A nozzle exit orifice of the nozzle body defines at least a bore for conducting the plasma arc therethrough. The assembly also comprises a counter bore feature, disposed relative to the distal end the nozzle body, fluidly connected to the bore and located distally relative to the bore. At least one of the bore or the counter bore feature has a non-circular cross-sectional shape in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The non-circular cross-sectional shape is configured to enable a second non-circular cross-sectional shape in the plasma arc that diffuses the plasma arc.

A center pipe is used in a plasma torch including a base portion and an electrode to supply cooling water into the electrode. The center pipe includes a pipe body and a contact piece. The pipe body has a tube-like shape with a cooling water channel therein. The pipe body is electrically conductive and configured to be electrically connected to an external power source via the base portion. The contact piece is arranged radially outside the pipe body at an intermediate position between a base end surface and a tip end surface of the pipe body. The contact piece is electrically conductive and energizes the electrode through contact with an internal circumferential surface of the electrode. The base end surface is disposed outside the electrode when the center pipe is inserted into the electrode. The pipe body is configured to be electrically connected to the electrode via the contact piece.

A plasma torch assembly for use in a chemical reactor comprises an input system and at least one plasma torch. The plasma torch has a torch chamber with an open end for gas outflow, a first electrode disposed in the torch chamber, and a second electrode disposed in the torch chamber between the cathode and the open end. The input system has a plurality of gas feedstock inputs. Each of the plurality of gas feedstock inputs is associated with one or more specified input gases and is associated with one or more gas input positions in the torch chamber.

A plasma torch assembly comprises a plurality of plasma torch apertures. Each of these plasma torch apertures is adapted to receive a plasma torch. The plasma torch assembly also comprises a working position for operation of the plasma torchthe working position is pressure sealed for hyperbaric operation of the plasma torch. The plasma torch assembly also has means to move each of the plasma torch apertures to the working position. In this way, plasma torches can be swapped in and out of the working position. A method of operating a plasma torch device comprising such a plasma torch assembly is also described.

Identifying interchangeable components, such as consumables and torch tips, for welding and cutting torches includes adding a luminescent material to a surface of a component. The luminescent material is configured to emit electromagnetic energy with a second spectral signature in response to absorbing electromagnetic energy with a first spectral signature. Electromagnetic energy with various spectral signatures is transmitted to the surface and the component is automatically identified when the surface emits the electromagnetic energy with the first spectral signature. A power supply may automatically adjust operational parameters of the torch including the component in response to the automatic identifying.

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.