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Thermal Arcs

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Handbook of Thermal Plasmas

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Abstract

DC and AC arcs are governed essentially by the same basic features. The periodic change of the polarity at the line frequency in AC arcs obscure, however, the basic phenomena involved. Emphasis is therefore placed on DC arcs in this chapter which is divided into two principal section:

The first deals with the arc column and the electrode regions. This includes the classical Elenbass-Heller model, which provides means for obtaining basic trends of arc column behavior such as the maximum temperature, which is feasible in an arc as function of the power input. This is followed by the Watson model, which represent a simple, single fluid description of an arc column. This section also covers a description of the electrode regions (Cathode and anode) and different current attachment mechanisms.

The second part of this chapter is devoted to the current-voltage characteristics of arcs, and their electrical stability. A classification of the different methods used for stabilizing the arc column is presented. This includes free-burning arcs, self-stabilized arcs, gas – stabilized arcs, wall-stabilized arcs, vortex-stabilized arcs, electrode-stabilized arcs and finally magnetically stabilized arcs.

Emil Pfender: deceased.

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Abbreviations

AC:

Alternative current

AJD:

Anode jet dominated

CJD:

Cathode jet dominated

DC:

Direct current

i.d.:

Internal diameter

ISPC:

International Symposium on Plasma Chemistry

LTE:

Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium

mfp:

Mean free path

MW:

Microwave

OFHC:

Oxygen-free high-purity copper

RF:

Radio frequency

TIG:

Tungsten Inert Gas

TWD:

Traveling wave discharge

1-D:

One-dimensional

2-D:

Two-dimensional

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical and Biotechnology Engineering, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada

    Maher I. Boulos

  2. Sciences des Procédés Céramiques et de Traitements de Surface (SPCTS), University of Limoges, Limoges, France

    Pierre L. Fauchais

  3. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Emil Pfender

Authors
  1. Maher I. Boulos
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  2. Pierre L. Fauchais
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  3. Emil Pfender
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maher I. Boulos .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical and Biotechnology Engineering, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada

    Maher I. Boulos

  2. Sciences des Procédés Céramiques et de Traitements de Surface (SPCTS), University of Limoges, Limoges, France

    Pierre L. Fauchais

  3. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Emil Pfender

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Boulos, M.I., Fauchais, P.L., Pfender, E. (2023). Thermal Arcs. In: Boulos, M.I., Fauchais, P.L., Pfender, E. (eds) Handbook of Thermal Plasmas. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-84936-8_12

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