Correlation of high-pressure arc heater results

Abstract

A method is introduced to correlate data from high-pressure arc heaters. It is suited for those heaters which have losses dominated by radiation. The correlation is valid for both laminar and turbulent flows. Turbulence is postulated to effect only the thermal conduction, and not electrical conduction or radiation. The introduction of azimuthal velocity (i.e., swirl) to the flow can stabilize the arc at the center. An axial decay of swirl will result in loss of stability and secondary flows. The scaling parameters have also been applied to vortex stabilized arcs. A method for scaling heaters is introduced, using the developed scaling parameters. Nomenclature Bz = axial magnetic field D = diameter E = electric field jPi = inlet length parameter F% = inlet voltage parameter F3 = inlet power loss parameter / = parametric variable used in inlet theory H = channel width /iav = average enthalpy in the heater / = arc current j = current density L = heater length m = mass flow rate in the constrictor Nu = Nusselt number P — arc power = IV -Peons = power loss to walls (p/pa) = pressure in atmospheres (gw)^ = average wall heat flux due to radiation = (PConsW irDL