A main
electrode (2, 20, 30, 44, 127) for
plasma arc generator, a generator (50, 70, 80, 126) comprising same and a process for treatment of solidifying
liquid metal by the mentioned generator, wherein the main
electrode in association with a counter
electrode (15, 28, 42, 54, 73, 86, 122) provides a two-rail structure capable of generating a
plasma arc
discharge displaceable along a
closed path uninterruptedly. The uninterrupted movement of the arc
discharge is achieved by a specific design of the main electrode. The electrode comprises an essentially tubular body having a first rim (3, 24, 33, 89) usually connected to a d.c. power source via at least one connector site (12), and a second, working rim (4, 27, 34, 46, 63, 78, 90) serving for the
electric arc discharge. The tubular body is divided by at least one slot (gap) (6, 22, 32, 49, 52, 88) associated with one connector site and extending between the first and second rims so that it forms at the second rim region a second rim gap. Two sides of the second rim gap are an arc transmitting (16, 36) and an arc receiving (17, 35) zones, respectively. Mutual positions of these two zones and the associated connector site are such, that when the
arc column is created and displaces along the second rim, it will always be transmitted from the transmitting zone to the receiving zone at a location positioned downstream from the projection of the associated connector site to the second rim (in respect of the direction of the
plasma arc movement). Owing to this arrangement the
arc column will cross the second rim gaps uninterruptedly.