Nature of convection-stabilized dc arcs in dual-flow nozzle geometry; Part I: The cold flow field and dc arc characteristics--

Journal Article · Thu Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1990 · IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/27.45511· OSTI ID:7160176

Serbetci, I ^[1]; Nagamatsu, H T ^[2]

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1. NASA-Lewis Research Center, Space Propulsion Division, MS 500-219, Cleveland, OH (US)
2. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering and Mechanics, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy NY (US)

In this paper, an experimental investigation of the steady-state low-current air arcs in a dual-flow nozzle system is presented. First, the cold flow with no arc as determined for various nozzle geometries, i.e., two- and three-dimensional and orifice nozzles, and nozzle pressure ratios. Supersonic flow separation and oblique and detached shock waves were observed in the flow field. Using a finite-element computer program, the Mach number contours were determined in the flow field for various nozzle-gap spacings and pressure ratios. In addition, the dc arc voltage and current measurements were made for an electrode gap spacing of {approx} 5.5 cm and current levels of I {approx} 25, 50, and 100 A for the three nozzle geometries. The arc voltage and arc power increased rapidly as the flow speed increased from zero to sonic velocity at the nozzle throat. The shock waves in the converging-diverging nozzles resulted in a decrease in the overall resistance by about 15 percent.

• OSTI ID: 7160176
• Journal Information: IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (USA), Vol. 18:1; ISSN 0093-3813
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
COLD PLASMA
PLASMA DRIFT
NOZZLES
GEOMETRY
PLASMA PRODUCTION
SHOCK WAVES
SUPERSONIC FLOW
ARC FURNACES
COMPUTER CODES
CONVECTION
CURRENT DENSITY
ELECTRODES
FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
MACH NUMBER
STEADY-STATE CONDITIONS
ELECTRIC FURNACES
ENERGY TRANSFER
FLUID FLOW
FURNACES
HEAT TRANSFER
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICS
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
PLASMA
VELOCITY
700101* - Fusion Energy- Plasma Research- Confinement
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700108 - Fusion Energy- Plasma Research- Wave Phenomena
990200 - Mathematics & Computers