A new type of plasma torch with combined stabilization of electric arc by water vortex and gas flow was investigated. This hybrid water/gas stabilization offers the possibility of adjusting plasma jet parameters within a wide range from high-enthalpy low-density plasmas typical for liquid stabilized torches to lower enthalpy higher density plasmas generated in gas stabilized torches. The torch was operated at an arc power from 22 to 130 kW with an exit centerline plasma velocity from 2 to 6.5 km/s and a plasma temperature from 14 000 K to 22 000 K. Moreover, gas flow in the cathode part protects a cathode tip and thus a consumable carbon cathode used in water torches could be replaced by a fixed tungsten cathode. The characteristics of the electric arc with combined gas/water stabilization were measured and the effect of gas properties and flow rate on plasma properties and gas-dynamic flow characteristics of the plasma jet were studied for argon, and mixtures of argon with hydrogen and nitrogen.Index Terms-Hybrid gas/water stabilization, plasma torch, thermal plasma jet, water-stabilized arc.
The gasification of biomass is a very smart way of its utilization. Tar content in the produced gas always plays an important role because high tar content disables some potentialities of the further treatment of the produced gas. There is a strong effort to produce gas with low tar content from this point of view. High concentrations of hydrogen and carbon monoxide also advance possibilities of the usage of the produced gas. Experiments were carried out in a reactor for plasma gasification equipped with hybrid gas-water stabilized DC torch. They confirmed that the reactor is absolutely suitable for this purpose mainly due to extremely low flow of plasma composed of argon, hydrogen and oxygen and its high inner temperature. The measurements of the tar content, using wood as a treated material, were based on SPE method. The determination of benzene and toluene in a gas phase revealed really low concentrations of tar, mostly below 10 mg/Nm 3 . PACS : 52.77.-j
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