High performance induction plasma torch

Abstract

An induction plasma torch comprises a tubular torch body, a plasma confinement tube disposed in the tubular torch body coaxial therewith, a gas distributor head disposed at one end of the plasma confinement tube and structured to supply at least one gaseous substance into the plasma confinement tube; an inductive coupling member for applying energy to the gaseous substance to produce and sustain plasma in the plasma confinement tube, and a capacitive shield including a film of conductive material applied to the outer surface of the plasma confinement tube or the inner surface of the tubular torch body. The film of conductive material is segmented into axial strips interconnected at one end. The film of conductive material has a thickness smaller than a skin-depth calculated for a frequency of a current supplied to the inductive coupling member and an electrical conductivity of the conductive material of the film.

Description

technical field [0001] The present disclosure generally relates to induction plasma torches. More specifically but not exclusively, the present disclosure relates to a plasma confinement tube, a tubular torch body including a capacitive shield, and an inductive plasma torch comprising such a plasma confinement tube and tubular torch body Torch, an induction plasma torch designed to operate at ultra-high purity and high power density under laboratory and industrial scale production conditions. Background technique [0002] Induced plasma torches have received continued attention as a valuable tool for materials synthesis and processing under high temperature plasma conditions. This basic concept has been known for over 60 years and has steadily evolved from a laboratory tool to an industrially valuable high power device. Operation of an induction plasma torch involves electromagnetically coupling energy into the plasma using an inductive coupling member (eg, a 4-6 turn indu...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, the introduction of a capacitive shield proposed by Frind leads to an increased difficulty in plasma ignition and a significant loss of energy coupling efficiency between the coil and the plasma due to energy dissipation in the metallic shield

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