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The radiation heat transfer from an argon and a nitrogen transferred-arc column to a cylindrical enclosure was measured. The rate of heat transfer was successfully correlated in a non-dimensional manner, with respect to the arc length within the enclosure and the enclosure diameter for the section of the arc column located within the enclosure, and with respect to the arc length outside the enclosure and the enclosure diameter for the section of the arc column outside the enclosure. / It was discovered that tangential injection of a particulate feed material into the cylindrical enclosure led to the formation of destabilizing lump-like deposits on the roof and wall of the enclosure. Feeding vertically through the roof of the enclosure in the presence of a vortex resulted in the formation of a uniform film deposit and stable operation. Under these conditions, up to 49% of the incident radiant energy emanating from the arc column to the sleeve surface was absorbed by the feed. / The carbothermic reduction of a fine (3-10$ mu$m) V$ sb2$O$ sb5$ powder in the plasma furnace resulted in the production of a commercial ferrovanadium alloy of controllable vanadium content. Particulate losses to the exhaust gases were very low, in the order of 2%. Specific energy consumption was 17kWh/kg of vanadium produced. Based on the results of these tests, specific energy consumption at a larger scale would be reduced by at least 50%.