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We investigate characteristics of multi-arc torches with three pairs of electrodes (three cathodes and three anodes) and their performance on the spheroidization of SiO2 powder. The effect of electrode arrangement, including adjacent pattern (AD pattern, adjacent electrodes powered by one power supply) and opposite pattern (OP pattern, opposite electrodes powered by one power supply), on the dynamics of arc plasma is investigated based on synchronous acquisition of electrical and optical signals. The results show that both the voltage and spatial distribution of each arc of multiple arcs are more stable compared with those of a single arc. The fluctuation of an arc in multiple arcs mainly comes from the small-scale arc-to-arc restrikes among multiple arcs. Moreover, these arc-to-arc restrikes occur more frequently among multiple arc columns in OP pattern than in AD pattern. Moreover, the high-temperature area of the central region of arc chamber in OP pattern is larger than that in AP pattern. For the spheroidization of SiO2 in this multi-arc generator, the spheronization degrees of plasma treated silica in OP pattern are at least 20% higher than those in AD pattern.

To obtain large-volume non-thermal arc plasma (NTAP), a multiple NTAP generator with three pairs of electrodes has been developed. The arc plasma characteristics, including dynamic process, spatial distribution, and rotation velocity in the discharge zone, were investigated by high speed photograph and image processing methods. The results showed that the dynamic behaviors and spatial distribution of the arc plasma were strongly related to the electrode configuration. A swirl flow of multi-arc plasma was formed by adjusting the electrode configuration, and a steady luminance area was clearly observed in the center of the discharge zone. Moreover, the size of the luminance area increased by decreasing the gas flow rate. The electrical connection in series could be formed between/among these arc columns with their respective driving power supplies in the multi-arc dynamic evolution process. An approximately periodical process of acceleration and deceleration of the arc rotation velocity was observed in the multi-arc generator with swirl flow configuration. In general, the mean velocity of arc rotation was higher in the multi-arc generator with swirl flow configuration when a pair of electrodes driven by a power supply were opposite to each other rather than adjacent.