A plasma torch having an open end from which a plasma plume is emitted in use is disclosed. The plasma torch includes a central cathode rod, a grounded conductive tube having an open end and being arranged around the cathode and spaced therefrom to form a first cylindrical cavity open at one end; and a high voltage electrode having a dielectric barrier material at a radially inward-facing surface thereof and being arranged around the grounded conductive tube and spaced apart therefrom to form a second annular cylindrical cavity open at one end. A constant direct current (DC) electrical power plus a high voltage pulsed electrical power is provided to the cathode producing an arc discharge in the first cavity between the cathode and grounded tube to generate a central thermal plasma emitted at an open end of the first cylindrical cavity. A high voltage alternating current electrical power or pulsed electrical power is provided to the high voltage electrode producing a dielectric barrier discharge in the second annular cylindrical cavity to generate a non-thermal plasma emitted from an open end of the second cavity as a halo around the central thermal plasma.

The present disclosure relates to generating energy. The teachings thereof may be embodied in methods for burning a reaction gas with an electropositive metal. An method for generating energy may include: supplying a reaction gas and an electropositive metal separately to at least one nozzle; wherein the electropositive metal is selected from alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, aluminum, zinc, mixtures, and/or alloys thereof; burning the reaction gas with the electropositive metal; and coverting the reaction gas before or during burning at least temporarily into a plasma.

A plasma arc torch is provided for use in a plasma cutting system. The plasma arc torch includes a torch body for conducting electrical current. The torch body includes a torch tip configured to pass the electrical current to at least one consumable component connected to the tip. The plasma arc torch also includes at least one antenna positioned relative to the torch tip. The antenna is used to wirelessly detect the presence of the at least one consumable component. The plasma arc torch further includes a detection circuit configured to permit passing of the electrical current from the torch tip to the at least one consumable component based on at least the wireless detection.

Design advances for improving the performance of a plasma torch. The use of one or more of various advances described herein can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the torch, the reactor and the manufacturing process. The use of the torch with hydrogen plasma gas, natural gas feedstock, and carbon black production are also described.

A nozzle of a plasma arc torch is provided. The nozzle is configured to reduce fluid pressure surging in a nozzle plenum. The nozzle comprises a nozzle body having a proximal end and a distal end. The nozzle plenum is defined between the nozzle body and an electrode of the plasma arc torch. The nozzle includes a nozzle plenum gas inlet located at the proximal end of the nozzle body, a plasma gas exit orifice located at the distal end of the nozzle body, a plasma gas passageway fluidly connecting the nozzle plenum gas inlet to the plasma gas exit orifice, and an isolation chamber fluidly connected to the plasma gas passageway and the nozzle plenum. The isolation chamber is sized to receive a volume of substantially stagnant gas to reduce the fluid pressure surging in the nozzle plenum.

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.

A gas nozzle for the outflow of a protective/shielding gas stream from a gas outlet of the gas nozzle having a gas distributor/diffuser section has a double-walled configuration at least in a partial area of the gas distributor/diffuser section in order to create a flow space for the protective/shielding gas stream. The invention also relates to a torch neck and to a method for thermally joining at least one workpiece, in particular for arc joining, preferably for arc welding or arc brazing/soldering, with an electrode which is arranged in the torch neck or with a wire for producing an arc between the electrode or the wire and the workpiece, and having a gas nozzle for the outflow of a protective/shielding gas stream from a gas outlet.

Design advances for improving the performance of a plasma torch. The use of one or more of various advances described herein can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the torch, the reactor and the manufacturing process. The use of the torch with hydrogen plasma gas, natural gas feedstock, and carbon black production are also described.

An atmospheric pressure plasma generating device includes a nozzle block in which fourth gas passages from which plasma gas is emitted are formed, is covered by cover, and a through-hole is formed in the cover such that the leading end of the fourth gas passage is positioned on the inside. Heated gas is supplied inside the cover and is emitted from the through-hole of the cover, and plasma gas is emitted so as to penetrate the heated gas. By the plasma gas being surrounded by the heated gas in this manner, deactivation of the plasma gas is prevented. A distance between the leading end of the fourth gas passage and an opening of the through-hole at an outer wall of the cover is set from 0 to 2 mm in an emission direction of the plasma gas.

A structure for high temperature applications includes a base structure which includes a ceramic composite material, and a coating of a metal-semimetal compound, a metal boride, a metal carbide and/or a metal nitride. Furthermore, a production method and a coating device produces structures which resist high temperature applications with higher process temperatures and difficult chemical conditions.