ON ANODE GAS-SHEATH ELECTRICAL BREAKDOWN IN A HIGH-PRESSURE-ARC PLASMA GENERATOR. Research Report
An experimental investigation into the mechanisms of electrical conduction across the low-temperature gas layer covering the cooled anode of a high-pressure nitrogen arc plasma generator is reported. Various flow regimes were identified; the turbulent mode was studied particularly. The cool wall gas sheath is shown to be bridged electrically by a moving concentrated arc. This arc behavior led to a cyclic variation of the potential difference between cathode and anode, but the arc current remained constant. Re-ignition of the arc after each cycle of travel down the nozzle-anode occurred by breakdown of the electrode gap in the neighborhood of the cathode. This breakdowm occurred at abnormally low voltage differences; the evidence indicated that the breakdown is strongly affected by the aerodynamic characteristics of the flow around the cathode. Reduced data for arc velocity, cycle time, voltage fluctuations, and time-average arc characteristics are presented for nitrogen. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Dartmouth Coll., Hanover, N.H. Thayer School of Engineering
- DOE Contract Number:
- AF33(657)-8179
- NSA Number:
- NSA-17-015343
- OSTI ID:
- 4756211
- Report Number(s):
- AD-277562
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-63
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
AERODYNAMICS
ANODES
BREAKDOWN
CATHODES
CONFIGURATION
COOLING
CURRENTS
ELECTRIC ARCS
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTRODES
FLUID FLOW
GASES
GENERATORS
LAYERS
LOW TEMPERATURE
MEASURED VALUES
MOTION
NITROGEN
NOZZLES
PLASMA
PLASMA SHEATH
PRESSURE
PULSES
SURFACES
TURBULENCE
VARIATIONS
VELOCITY
VESSELS