FIELD: plasma engineering; plasmatrons using water steam as plasma gas. SUBSTANCE: coolant temperature and.or composition of plasma gas containing water steam is chosen so that temperature of plasma gas condensate is lower than surface temperature of plasmatron components being cooled that are highly thermally loaded. Temperature of components being cooled depends on coolant temperature. Hot water of at least 80 C is used as coolant. Plasma gas condensation temperature is reduced by adding gas of lower condensation temperature than that of water steam, such as that of air. EFFECT: reduced erosion of electrodes due to their limited cooling. 14 cl
