PEMANASAN PLASMA (PLASMA HEATING)

Plasma heating is an electrical heating process which is depend on the conversion of a gas into plasma using application of energy by an electric arc. Plasma heating process will produce high operating temperature and highly power density. unlike joule heating, its grown out of the speciality metal industry.

A PLASMA (ionized gas)

"At high temperature, electron are stripped from their nuclei and the matter exists as a mixture of negative electron, positive nuclei and atoms. the ionized particles make plasma an excellent electrical conductor." (Jacob, 1991)

There are two types of plasma : the degree of ionization is close to unity and only partially ionized. first type of plasma occurs in thermonuclear fussion which is temperature reach millions degree. this type of plasma found in sun which absent industrial applications. the second type of plasma has the degree ionized from 2 - 50%. the partially ionized plasma temperature are between 2000 and 5000 degree Kelvin. therefore, these plasma have industrial applications.


Two basic function of plasma heating equipment : create plasma and heat the products.


Plasma commonly created by passing a gas through an electrical arc. the arc can be generated by Direct Current (DC) or Alternating Current (AC). with a DC arc, the cathode generally consists of tungsten and anode consist of copper. the anode function as nozzle, directing the plasma while in AC arc plasma generators , electrodes act as cathode and anode alternately and must be made from the same material.Gases used in generating plasma are include Nitrogen, Oxygen, noble gases, air and mixture of these gases. 


The product heated in one of two ways: transferred arc and non-transferred arc.


to be continue~~