Abstract: Arc plasma technology is widely used in metallurgy, chemical industry, energy and environmental protection, aerospace and other fields because of its high temperature, high energy density and high activity. At present, arc plasma is mainly driven by DC or AC power supply. Compared with other methods, AC arc plasma technology has the advantages of lower equipment development and operation cost, longer electrode service life and higher thermal efficiency, it has a wide application prospect in the field of industrial application. In this paper, the latest research progress of several research institutions at home and abroad in the development of AC arc plasma torches and their industrial applications was reviewed, and the structural characteristics, arc characteristics and their influencing factors of different types of AC arc plasma torches as well as the ablation characteristics of different electrode materials were described in detail. Meanwhile, the application of AC arc plasma torch in the preparation of carbon nano materials and the thermal treatment of solid wastes are expounded, and the working characteristics and application effects of different types of AC arc plasma torch are obtained.