Physical characteristics of twin DC thermal plasma torch applied to polymer waste treatment

• To obtain high intensity arc at higher gas flow rates, the power must be increased.
• Emission spectroscopy used for plasma diagnostics.
• The concentration of H2 in gas product for all polymer samples had a significant value.

A twin DC plasma torch with two separate single torches is designed. The arc jet is generated in a symmetric mode, with different working gas flow rates introduced into anode and cathode torches. Effects of different argon flow rates on arc voltage, arc temperature, and arc mode are studied. Results of these experiments show that with an increase in anode and cathode gas flow rates, arc voltage increases while arc temperature decreases. Finally, plasma treatment is performed on some polymers in an optimum condition. The identification and concentration of products is obtained by optical emission spectroscopy and gas chromatography, respectively.