The dynamics of the electric arc inside a direct current non-transferred arc plasma torch are simulated using a three-dimensional, transient, equilibrium model. The fluid and electromagnetic equations are solved numerically in a fully coupled approach by a multiscale finite element method. Simulations of a torch operating with argon and argon-hydrogen under different operating conditions are presented. The model is able to predict the operation of the torch in steady and takeover modes without any further assumption on the reattachment process except for the use of an artificially high electrical conductivity near the electrodes, needed because of the equilibrium assumption. The results obtained indicate that the reattachment process in these operating modes may be driven by the movement of the arc rather than by a breakdown-like process. It is also found that, for a torch operating in these modes and using straight gas injection, the arc will tend to re-attach to the opposite side of its original attachment. This phenomenon seems to be produced by a net angular momentum on the arc due to the imbalance between magnetic and fluid drag forces.Keywords Thermal plasma · Torch · Modeling · Arc dynamics · Finite elements · Multiscale Notation A magnetic vector potential (T-m) A advective Jacobian A 0 transformation Jacobian from conservative to primitive variables B magnetic field (T) C p specific heat at constant pressure (J/kg-K) e elementary charge (C) E electric field (V/m) h enthalpy (J/kg) and convective heat transfer coefficient (W/m 2 -K) 558 Plasma Chem Plasma Process (2006) 26:557-575 I total current (A) j current density (A/m 2 ) k B Boltzmann constant (J/K) K diffusivity matrix K DCO discontinuity-capturing-operator diffusivity matrix n normal to the boundary N basis or interpolation function p pressure (Pa) q 0 , q 1 linearizations of specified diffusive fluxes Q volumetric flow rate (lpm) r radial coordinate (m) R total residual of the conservation equations R radius (m) S boundary of the computational domain S 0 , S 1 reactive terms (i.e., linearizations of a general source term S) t time (s) T temperature (K) u velocity (m/s) U average velocity (m/s) V computational domain X vector of spatial coordinates Y vector of unknowns x, y, z main coordinate axes (m) x,ŷ,ẑ unit vectors of the main axes Greek symbols α Polar coordinated angle (rad) ↔ δ identity tensor ε r net emission coefficient (W/m 3 -sr) φ electric potential (V) κ thermal conductivity (W/m-K) μ dynamic viscosity (kg/m-s) μ 0 permeability of free space (Wb/A-m) ρ density (kg/m 3 ) σ electrical conductivity (1/ -m) ↔ τ stress tensor (Pa) τ SGS matrix of time scales θ average inclination angle of the inlet flow with respect to the torch axis (rad)