Design of a Circular Cascaded Arc Torch Array for Plasma Spray

Abstract

A new concept has been verified for a plasma spray electrode system that improves plasma plume uniformity over that of a single arc torch. A six-electrode, circular, arc-cascade discharge was formed by mounting seven tungsten-rod electrodes radially around a stream of argon gas. To maintain the plasma plume, the cascade-arc discharge was repetitively triggered using a cascaded high-voltage spark initiated by a secondary spark gap. The typical cascade arc voltage and current were 130 V and 20 A. Results show that the cascaded arc array system can create a ring-shaped plasma plume having near-uniform electrical energy in the circular direction. This feature suggests that the configuration may have future use in plasma torch systems requiring uniform circular symmetry. In such a system, spray particles can be injected into the center of the plasma ring. At the same time, such an arrangement also could provide a lower-cost alternative to systems that use multiple two-electrode plasma torches arranged in a circular configuration. In the latter system, each two-electrode plasma torch is fed by a separate power supply.