Plasma Torch Developments

With the goal to improve the plasma spraying technique a considerable number of plasma gun types using different physical principles have been developed in the past. In this paper for conventional DC discharge plasma torches widely used in industry, some aspects of operation as arc fluctuations and non-symmetric plasma jets are discussed. Different construction principles with single or multiple electrodes as well as with one-piece or cascaded nozzles are compared. Finally a new torch concept is presented.