Method of utilizing a plasma column

Claim 1

A method of utilizing a plasma column directed toward a surface comprising the steps of: forming a plasma column from a source comprising cathode means spaced from an anode surface so that plasma moves toward said anode surface along an axis substantially perpendicular to the anode surface; injecting a flow of gas through a nozzle adjacent the cathode means with the gas flowing along said axis toward the anode surface; and regulating the flow of gas in relation to the spacing of the anode surface relative to the cathode means until the regulated gas flow opposes induced gas flow such that the plasma column spreads out radially in a stagnation zone substantially under control of the regulated gas flow in at least one location along the column between the anode surface and the cathode means, the stagnation zone having an area greater than the portion of the plasma column adjacent the cathode means.

Claim 2

A method of utilizing a plasma column directed toward a surface comprising the steps of: forming a plasma column from a source comprising cathode means spaced from an anode surface so that plasma moves toward said anode surface along an axis substantially perpendicular to the anode surface; injecting a flow of gas through a nozzle adjacent the cathode means with the gas flowing along said axis toward the anode surface; and regulating the flow of gas in relation to the spacing of the anode surface relative to the cathode means until the regulated gas flow opposes induced gas flow such that the plasma column spreads out radially in a stagnation zone substantially under control of the regulated gas flow in at least one location along the column between the anode surface and the cathode means, the stagnation zone having an area greater than the portion of the plasma column adjacent the cathode means.

Claim 6

A method of using a plasma column directed in a first direction comprising the steps of: forming a plasma column moving in the first direction.Iadd.toward a surface .Iaddend.along an axis using a plurality of cathodes spaced laterally from the axis and from each other, orienting the cathodes relative to an anode spaced from the cathodes in the first direction and energizing the cathodes to simultaneously form an individual arc from each cathode, which individual arcs coalesce to form such plasma column; injecting a flow of gas along the axis in the first direction through a nozzle spaced along the axis from the cathodes such that the nozzle is in a region where the plasma arcs forming the plasma column have not coalesced; .[.and.]. .Iadd.regulating the flow of gas from said nozzle to form a stable core in the plasma column that is formed after the arcs have coalesced; providing the gas at sufficient gas volume and pressure so that the size and stability of the plasma column is controlled primarily by the regulated flow of gas; and .Iaddend. injecting particles into the .Iadd.regulated .Iaddend.gas flow to move .Iadd.with the regulated gas flow .Iaddend.in the first direction axially along and in the center portions of the plasma column, said particles being injected into the gas flow in a region where the arcs have not coalesced .Iadd.and being carried into the central core of the plasma column with the regulated gas flow.Iaddend..

Claim 7

A method of using a plasma column directed in a first direction comprising the steps of: forming a plasma column moving in the first direction.Iadd.toward a surface .Iaddend.along an axis using a plurality of cathodes spaced laterally from the axis and from each other, orienting the cathodes relative to an anode spaced from the cathodes in the first direction and energizing the cathodes to simultaneously form an individual arc from each cathode, which individual arcs coalesce to form such plasma column; injecting a flow of gas along the axis in the first direction through a nozzle spaced along the axis from the cathodes such that the nozzle is in a region where the plasma arcs forming the plasma column have not coalesced; .[.and.]. .Iadd.regulating the flow of gas from said nozzle to form a stable core in the plasma column that is formed after the arcs have coalesced; providing the gas at sufficient gas volume and pressure so that the size and stability of the plasma column is controlled primarily by the regulated flow of gas; and .Iaddend. injecting particles into the .Iadd.regulated .Iaddend.gas flow to move .Iadd.with the regulated gas flow .Iaddend.in the first direction axially along and in the center portions of the plasma column, said particles being injected into the gas flow in a region where the arcs have not coalesced .Iadd.and being carried into the central core of the plasma column with the regulated gas flow.Iaddend..

Claim 8

A method of utilizing a plasma column for heating material forming an anode surface comprising the steps of: forming a plasma column moving toward an anode surface along an axis substantially perpendicular to the anode surface by placing a plurality of cathodes spaced laterally from the axis and spaced from the anode surface with the arcs coalesced between the cathodes and the anode surface to form such plasma column; injecting a flow of gas through a nozzle adjacent the cathodes in direction toward the anode surface; and regulating the flow of gas in relation to the spacing of the anode surface relative to the cathodes until the plasma column flows toward the anode surface in counter action to induced gas flows and spreads out substantially under control of the gas flow along the anode surface radially from the axis to cause the coalesced arcs to attach to the anode surface over a heated area greater than the cross sectional area of the portion of the plasma column adjacent the cathodes, to thereby distribute heat from the arcs across such greater heated area of the anode surface.

Claim 9

A method of utilizing a plasma column for heating material forming an anode surface comprising the steps of: forming a plasma column moving toward an anode surface along an axis substantially perpendicular to the anode surface by placing a plurality of cathodes spaced laterally from the axis and spaced from the anode surface with the arcs coalesced between the cathodes and the anode surface to form such plasma column; injecting a flow of gas through a nozzle adjacent the cathodes in direction toward the anode surface; and regulating the flow of gas in relation to the spacing of the anode surface relative to the cathodes until the plasma column flows toward the anode surface in counter action to induced gas flows and spreads out substantially under control of the gas flow along the anode surface radially from the axis to cause the coalesced arcs to attach to the anode surface over a heated area greater than the cross sectional area of the portion of the plasma column adjacent the cathodes, to thereby distribute heat from the arcs across such greater heated area of the anode surface.