Aerojet-general Corporation

Debbie A Dumais

Brad J Anderson

Scott N Sieger

Mueggenburg H Harry

An electrode for a plasma torch comprises multiple platelets that are stacked together. The platelets have openings that are oriented to form a bore through the electrode adapted for generating a plasma arc. The platelets also have apertures arranged to form multiple coolant channels through the electrode. The coolant channels are immediately adjacent to the bore and extend substantially along the entire length of the bore. This increases the heat transfer area between liquid coolant flowing through the channels and the hot plasma arc within the bore to reduce the temperature of the exposed electrode surface, thereby increasing the lifetime of the electrode. A second set of passages can exist within the electrode to inject gas through the electrode wall at the surface of the bore. This secondary gas injection is directed tangential to the bore surface to create or enhanced gas swirl, thereby rotating the arc foot and eliminating or reducing arc attachment induced erosion damage.

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Loomis, CA, United States of America

Debbie A Dumais