Anode layer in a high-current arc in atmospheric pressure nitrogen

Abstract

An anode layer in a high-current atmospheric nitrogen arc was modelled. Calculations were made in a one-dimensional approximation at current densities in the range 500–3000 A cm−2. Two-temperature approximation was used. We calculated the distributions of both electron and heavy particle temperatures, the concentrations of charged and neutral particles and the electric field inside the anode layer. It was shown that for the conditions that exist in the anode layer of a high-current atmospheric pressure arc in nitrogen (a) the concentration of the molecular ions is negligible and (b) the concentration of atoms exceeds the concentration of molecules everywhere in the anode layer except in a narrow region close to the anode. Calculation showed that the electric field decreases towards the anode, and then close to the anode it rises again. Contrary to the situation in argon, the present calculations showed that in nitrogen the electric field in the anode layer is always accelerating. However, the average electric field in the anode layer is weaker than in the adjacent arc column (the so-called negative anode layer voltage). The voltage drop in the Langmuir sheath is also negative. It is shown that the main difference in anode layer voltages between an arc in nitrogen and an arc in argon is due to the high reactive thermal conductivity in nitrogen.