Other

Hydro-quebec

Richard J Munz

Michel G Drouet

Tony Addona

Ian Turner

Roberto N Szente

A method is provided for forming a molten oxide ceramic electrode for a plasma arc ignited between first and second electrodes within a plasma arc chamber, wherein the conductivity the oxide ceramic is a function of temperature alone. Following ignition of the plasma arc, a mixture is formed of a small quantity of molten oxide ceramic and a sufficiently high concentration of a volatile contaminant to render the mixture electrically conductive. The plasma arc is then transferred from one of the electrodes to the mixture. The temperature of the mixture is raised sufficiently to render the oxide ceramic electrically conductive. Finally, the volatile contaminant is progressively removed from the mixture so as to leave an electrode composed of substantially pure molten oxide ceramic.

Method of forming an oxide ceramic electrode in a transferred plasma arc

A plasma torch for the treatment of gases of particles, or for the deposition of particles onto a substrate, which has two concentrical electrodes coaxially mounted onto a support. The gases or particles to be treated or deposited are injected through an injection passage that is coaxial with the central electrode and opens centrally into an outlet nozzle so as to inject the gases or particles centrally and coaxially within the center of the flame torch without unduly affecting the characteristics of the plasma. In use, the central electrode extends well downstream of the peripheral electrode, whereby the electric arc may not block the injection passage. Moreover, a magnetic field is generated externally to the electrodes in the direction parallel to the annular passage defined between the electrodes in order to rotate the electric arc within the passage and thus reduces the erosion of the electrodes while ensuring better heating of the plasma gas.

Plasma torch for the treatment of gases and/or particles and for the

The disclosure describes a method and a system for treating gaseous effluents to remove impurities therefrom, these gaseous effluents flowing out from a high temperature reactor, into which a particulate material is being fed. The method comprises directing the flow of gaseous effluents counter-currently through the particulate material which is fed into the reactor, and independently controlling the particulate material feed rate and the velocity of the gaseous effluents so that particles in the gas feed are substantially all trapped by the particulate feed material and are returned to the high temperature reactor. Volatile materials may also be condensed on the particulate feed material. The purified gaseous effluents are then allowed to exit. A system for carrying out this method is also disclosed.

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Westmount, Canada

Richard J Munz