Abstract: An induction plasma torch comprises a tubular torch body, a plasma confinement tube disposed in the tubular torch body coaxial therewith, a gas distributor head disposed at one end of the plasma confinement tube and structured to supply at least one gaseous substance into the plasma confinement tube; an inductive coupling member embedded within the tubular torch body for applying energy to the gaseous substance to produce and sustain plasma in the plasma confinement tube, and an electrically conductive capacitive shield on an inner surface of the tubular torch body. The capacitive shield is segmented into axial strips interconnected at one end. Axial grooves are machined in the inner surface of the tubular torch body, the axial grooves being interposed between the axial strips.

Abstract: A plasma reactor comprises a torch body comprising a plasma torch for generating plasma, a reactor section in fluid communication with the torch body for receiving the plasma from the plasma torch, and a quench section in fluid communication with the reactor section. The quench section comprises an inner wall defining a quench chamber, the inner wall has a serrated configuration, and the quench chamber has an upstream end adjacent the reactor section and an opposite downstream end. The plasma reactor also comprises at least one heating element in thermal communication with the reactor section, wherein the at least one heating element provides for selectively modulating a temperature within the reactor section.

Abstract: An induction plasma torch comprises a tubular torch body, a plasma confinement tube disposed in the tubular torch body coaxial therewith, a gas distributor head disposed at one end of the plasma confinement tube and structured to supply at least one gaseous substance into the plasma confinement tube; an inductive coupling member embedded within the tubular torch body for applying energy to the gaseous substance to produce and sustain plasma in the plasma confinement tube, and an electrically conductive capacitive shield on an inner surface of the tubular torch body. The capacitive shield is segmented into axial strips interconnected at one end. Axial grooves are machined in the inner surface of the tubular torch body, the axial grooves being interposed between the axial strips.

Abstract: A titanium metal production apparatus is provided with (a) a first flow channel that supplies magnesium in a state of gas, (b) a second flow channel that supplies titanium tetrachloride in a state of gas, (c) a gas mixing section in which the magnesium and titanium tetrachloride in a state of gas are mixed and the temperature is controlled to be 1600° C. or more, (d) a titanium metal deposition section in which particles for deposition are arranged so as to be movable, the temperature is in the range of 715 to 1500° C., and the absolute pressure is 50 kPa to 500 kPa, and (e) a mixed gas discharge section which is in communication with the titanium metal deposition section.

Abstract: A plasma confinement tube for use in an induction plasma torch is disclosed. The plasma confinement tube defines a geometrical axis and an outer surface. The plasma confinement tube includes a capacitive shield comprising a film of conductive material applied to the outer surface of the plasma confinement tube and segmented into axial strips. The axial strips are interconnected at one end. Axial grooves are machined in the outer surface of the plasma confinement tube, and interposed between the axial strips. The conductive film may have a thickness smaller than a skin-depth calculated for a frequency of operation of the induction plasma torch and an electrical conductivity of the conductive material of the film.

Abstract: A device for producing titanium metal comprises (a) a first heating unit that heats and gasifies magnesium and a first channel that feeds the gaseous magnesium, (b) a second heating unit that heats and gasifies titanium tetrachloride so as to have a temperature of at least 1600° C. and a second channel that feeds the gaseous titanium tetrachloride, (c) a venturi section at which the second channel communicates with an entrance channel, the first channel merges into a throat and as a result the magnesium and the titanium tetrachloride combine in the throat and a mixed gas is formed in the exit channel, and in which the temperature of the throat and the exit channel is regulated to be at least 1600° C., (d) a titanium metal deposition unit that communicates with the exit channel and has a substrate for deposition with a temperature in the range of 715-1500° C., and (e) a mixed gas discharge channel that communicates with the titanium metal deposition unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing titanium metal, which comprises: (a) a step in which a mixed gas is formed by supplying titanium tetrachloride and magnesium into a mixing space that is held at an absolute pressure of 50-500 kPa and at a temperature not less than 1700° C.; (b) a step in which the mixed gas is introduced into a deposition space; (c) a step in which titanium metal is deposited and grown on a substrate for deposition; and (d) a step in which the mixed gas after the step (c) is discharged. In this connection, the deposition space has an absolute pressure of 50-500 kPa, the substrate for deposition is arranged in the deposition space, and at least a part of the substrate for deposition is held within the temperature range of 715-1500° C.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for preparing a nanopowder are presented. The process comprises feeding a reactant material into a plasma reactor in which is generated a plasma flow having a temperature sufficiently high to vaporize the material; transporting the vapor with the plasma flow into a quenching zone; injecting a preheated quench gas into the plasma flow in the quenching zone to form a renewable gaseous condensation front; and forming a nanopowder at the interface between the renewable controlled temperature gaseous condensation front and the plasma flow.

Abstract: A titanium metal production apparatus is provided with (a) a first flow channel that supplies magnesium in a state of gas, (b) a second flow channel that supplies titanium tetrachloride in a state of gas, (c) a gas mixing section in which the magnesium and titanium tetrachloride in a state of gas are mixed and the temperature is controlled to be 1600° C. or more, (d) a titanium metal deposition section in which particles for deposition are arranged so as to be movable, the temperature is in the range of 715 to 1500° C., and the absolute pressure is 50 kPa to 500 kPa, and (e) a mixed gas discharge section which is in communication with the titanium metal deposition section.

Abstract: A device for producing titanium metal comprises (a) a first heating unit that heats and gasifies magnesium and a first channel that feeds the gaseous magnesium, (b) a second heating unit that heats and gasifies titanium tetrachloride so as to have a temperature of at least 1600° C. and a second channel that feeds the gaseous titanium tetrachloride, (c) a venturi section at which the second channel communicates with an entrance channel, the first channel merges into a throat and as a result the magnesium and the titanium tetrachloride combine in the throat and a mixed gas is formed in the exit channel, and in which the temperature of the throat and the exit channel is regulated to be at least 1600° C., (d) a titanium metal deposition unit that communicates with the exit channel and has a substrate for deposition with a temperature in the range of 715-1500° C., and (e) a mixed gas discharge channel that communicates with the titanium metal deposition unit.

Abstract: A metal titanium production device comprising: (a) a magnesium evaporation unit in which solid magnesium is evaporated and a first flow path which is communicated with the evaporation unit and through which gaseous magnesium is supplied; (b) a second flow path through which gaseous titanium tetrachloride is supplied; (c) a gas mixing unit which is communicated with the first flow path and the second flow path and in which the gaseous magnesium is mixed with titanium tetrachloride, the absolute pressure is adjusted to 50 to 500 kPa and the temperature is adjusted to 1600° C. or higher; (d) a metal titanium precipitation unit which is communicated with the gas mixing unit and in which a precipitation substrate having at least partially a temperature of 715 to 1500° C. is placed and the absolute pressure is adjusted to 50 to 500 kPa; and (e) a mixed gas discharge unit which is communicated with the metal titanium precipitation unit.

Abstract: An induction plasma torch comprises a tubular torch body, a plasma confinement tube disposed in the tubular torch body coaxial therewith, a gas distributor head disposed at one end of the plasma confinement tube and structured to supply at least one gaseous substance into the plasma confinement tube; an inductive coupling member for applying energy to the gaseous substance to produce and sustain plasma in the plasma confinement tube, and a capacitive shield including a film of conductive material applied to the outer surface of the plasma confinement tube or the inner surface of the tubular torch body. The film of conductive material is segmented into axial strips interconnected at one end. The film of conductive material has a thickness smaller than a skin-depth calculated for a frequency of a current supplied to the inductive coupling member and an electrical conductivity of the conductive material of the film.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing nanopowders and materials processing is described herein. A plasma reactor comprising a torch body comprising a plasma torch for generating a plasma; a reactor section in fluid communication with the torch body for receiving a plasma discharge and further being in fluid communication with a quench section; and at least one heating element in thermal communication with the reactor section and wherein the at least one heating element provides for selectively modulating the temperature within the reactor section is described herein.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing titanium metal, which comprises: (a) a step in which a mixed gas is formed by supplying titanium tetrachloride and magnesium into a mixing space that is held at an absolute pressure of 50-500 kPa and at a temperature not less than 1700° C.; (b) a step in which the mixed gas is introduced into a deposition space; (c) a step in which titanium metal is deposited and grown on a substrate for deposition; and (d) a step in which the mixed gas after the step (c) is discharged. In this connection, the deposition space has an absolute pressure of 50-500 kPa, the substrate for deposition is arranged in the deposition space, and at least a part of the substrate for deposition is held within the temperature range of 715-1500° C.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing titanium metal is described herein. The process comprises generating an RF thermal plasma discharge using a plasma torch provided with an RF coil; reducing titanium tetrachloride to a titanium metal by supplying titanium tetrachloride and magnesium into the RF thermal plasma discharge; and collecting or depositing the titanium metal at a temperature not lower than the boiling point of magnesium chloride and not higher than the boiling point of the titanium metal.

Abstract: A process for synthesizing metal nanopowders by introducing metal carbonyl into an induction plasma torch. By taking advantage of the much lower dissolution temperature of carbonyl as opposed to the high melting temperature of conventional metal powder feeds less torch power is required. Moreover, in contrast to current powder production techniques utilizing electrode based plasma torches, the induction plasma torch does not introduce contaminants into the nanopowder.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for synthesizing a nanopowder is presented. In particular, a process for the synthesis of nanopowders of various materials such as metals, alloys, ceramics and composites by induction plasma technology, using organometallic compounds, chlorides, bromides, fluorides, iodides, nitrites, nitrates, oxalates and carbonates as precursors is disclosed. The process comprises feeding a reactant material into a plasma torch in which is generated a plasma flow having a temperature sufficiently high to yield a superheated vapor of the material; transporting said vapor by means of the plasma flow into a quenching zone; injecting a cold quench gas into the plasma flow in the quenching zone to form a renewable gaseous cold front; and forming a nanopowder at the interface between the renewable gaseous cold front and the plasma flow.

Abstract: A process for synthesizing metal nanopowders by introducing metal carbonyl into an induction plasma torch. By taking advantage of the much lower dissolution temperature of carbonyl as opposed to the high melting temperature of conventional metal powder feeds less torch power is required. Moreover, in contrast to current powder production techniques utilizing electrode based plasma torches, the induction plasma torch does not introduce contaminants into the nanopowder.

Abstract: The solid oxide fuel cell can comprise: an electroconductive and porous reformer including a catalytically active material and shaped to constitute a solid slab having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, and a plurality of adjacent grooves along the first surface, and flat regions adjacent the plurality of grooves; an anode layer covering the plurality of grooves of the reformer slab and having a corresponding grooved shape; an electrolyte layer covering the anode layer over the plurality of grooves of the reformer slab and having a corresponding grooved shape, and extending over the flat regions; and a cathode layer covering the electrolyte layer over the grooves of the reformer slab and having a corresponding grooved shape.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing titanium metal is described herein. The process comprises generating an RF thermal plasma discharge using a plasma torch provided with an RF coil; reducing titanium tetrachloride to a titanium metal by supplying titanium tetrachloride and magnesium into the RF thermal plasma discharge; and collecting or depositing the titanium metal at a temperature not lower than the boiling point of magnesium chloride and not higher than the boiling point of the titanium metal.