Plasma torch with structure capable of performing reversed polarity/straight polarity operation

A plasma torch with a structure capable of performing reversed polarity/straight polarity operation, wherein the plasma torch is coupled to a melter and melts a waste material such as radioactive waste or industrial waste by generating and sustaining a plasma arc between electrodes, the plasma torch comprising:

• a rear electrode provided inside a torch pipe and electrically connected to become one of an anode or a cathode;
• a front electrode provided at a front end of the torch pipe at a position adjacent to a front end of the rear electrode and electrically connected to become another one of the anode or the cathode;
• a first-shaft torch feed means linearly feeding the plasma torch;
• and
• a second-shaft torch rotation angle adjustment means adjusting a rotation angle of the plasma torch when the plasma torch is coupled to the melter;
• wherein electrical connections of the rear and front electrodes are switchable with each other so that the plasma torch operates as a reversed polarity plasma torch or a straight polarity plasma torch;
• wherein the first-shaft torch feed means includes:
• a first-shaft linear motion (LM) guide guiding the plasma torch to move linearly;
• a first-shaft guide block provided on the first-shaft LM guide to be movable linearly and fixedly supporting on an upper portion thereof the plasma torch;
• a first-shaft ball screw coupled to the first-shaft guide block by passing therethrough and linearly moving the first-shaft guide block forward and backward through normal and reverse rotation;
• and
• a first-shaft servo motor connected to an end of the first-shaft ball screw and rotating in normal and reverse directions by application of power to rotate the first-shaft ball screw in the normal and reverse directions;
• and
• wherein the second-shaft torch rotation angle adjustment means includes:
• a second-shaft support having a predetermined height and provided at a side of the melter;
• a second-shaft connection link rotatably coupled to an upper end of the second-shaft support;
• a second-shaft length adjustment means rotatably coupled to an end of the second-shaft connection link, and adjusting an angle of the plasma torch through length adjustment;
• and
• a second-shaft support link rotatably coupled at opposite ends thereof to an end of the second-shaft length adjustment means and to a side of the melter, and supporting the first-shaft torch feed means.

A melter, wherein the melter has a first plasma torch and a second plasma torch, each of the first plasma torch and the second plasma torch having a structure capable of performing reversed polarity/straight polarity operation and being configured to melt a waste material such as radioactive waste or industrial waste by generating and sustaining a plasma arc between electrodes, each of the first plasma torch and the second plasma torch comprising:

• a rear electrode provided inside a torch pipe and electrically connected to become one of an anode or a cathode;
• a front electrode provided at a front end of the torch pipe at a position adjacent to a front end of the rear electrode and electrically connected to become another one of the anode or the cathode;
• and
• a first-shaft torch feed means configured to linearly feed the first plasma torch or the second plasma torch forward and backward in a direction parallel to a lengthwise direction of the first plasma torch or the second plasma torch,
• wherein the first-shaft torch feed means includes:
• a first-shaft linear motion (LM) guide guiding the first plasma torch or the second plasma torch to move linearly;
• and
• a first-shaft guide block provided on the first-shaft LM guide to be movable linearly and fixedly supporting on an upper portion thereof the plasma torch;
• wherein a surface of the first-shaft guide block contacts a surface of the plasma torch;
• and
• wherein electrical connections of the rear and front electrodes are switchable with each other so that each of the first plasma torch and the second plasma torch operates as a reversed polarity plasma torch or a straight polarity plasma torch;
• the first plasma torch and the second plasma torch operating by one power source and operating in an operation state and a pre-heating state, respectively, such that when one of the first plasma torch or the second plasma torch stops operation or an output thereof decreases, another one of the first plasma torch or the second plasma torch operates by replacing the one of the first plasma torch or the second plasma torch.