Investigation of Ways and Methods to Increase the Time of Continuous Operation of Alternating Current Plasma Generators in Industrial Applications

Summary form only given. The electrode units of high-voltage AC plasma generators with oxidizing plasma forming media (air) were investigated with aim to achieve the maximal time of their continuous work. It is very important parameter of plasma generators for using in different technological applications. The examined plasma generators of power range 5-50 kW at pressure of ~ 0.1 MPa have given a good account both at work in electrophysieal research installations, and in the trial installations intended for plasmachemical destruction of various waste. Successful application of plasma generators in industrial installations on waste processing depends on increase of the time of their continuous work up to technologically justified value. First of all influence of electrode material was investigated. There were tested various materials for electrode including "unconventional" ones produced by a method of powder metallurgy. Moreover a development of a number of new designs of electrodes and electrode units as well as their researches in various modes were performed. A complex of measures for maintenance of effective cooling of an electrode and distribution of thermal and erosive loading on its working surface (butt-end) is offered in order to increase operating time of rod electrode system. Copper has been selected as an effective and long-life material for electrodes operation in oxidizing environments. Such alloying elements, as iron, yttrium oxide, nickel, niobium were selected as additives to the basic material (copper) by a method of experimental estimations. An influence of such additives and efficiency of the material produced on their basis were investigated and the results are presented.