Abstract: Plasma torch (8; 10) of improved performances, comprising: an electrode (13) provided with a respective electrode head (18; 37); a nozzle (14); and an outside jacket (26), there being formed a first cooling circuit (20, 21) of a coolant for the electrode head (18; 37) having an end passage (22), said head being characterised in that it comprises a device (25) for disposing of the electrode heat, located inside of the first cooling circuit.

Abstract: Plasma torch (8; 10) of improved performances, comprising: an electrode (13) provided with a respective electrode head (18; 37); a nozzle (14); and an outside jacket (26), there being formed a first cooling circuit (20, 21, 22) of a coolant for said electrode head (18; 37) having an end passage (22), said head being characterised in that it comprises means (25) for disposing of the electrode heat, located inside of the first cooling circuit.

Abstract: A process for controlling continuous casting conditions in steel tapped from a furnace, which proceeds from a ladle into a tundish, and then via a submerged nozzle to a continuous casting mold. In either the ladle or the tundish, the liquid steel is subjected to radiation heating and convection heating from an electric heating device by which an electric current is made to pass through the liquid steel from this heating device to a return located downstream of the device, for example in the continuous casting mold. Preferably, the heating device is a transferred arc plasma torch. In addition, the nozzle between the tundish and the continuous casting mold is subjected not only to the passage of current but also to a direct magnetic field perpendicular to the steel stream.