Powerful pulse generator of dense plasma with high concentration of metal vapour

Abstract

The results of experiments on the heating of hydrogen and nitrogen of high initial pressure (20 – 40 MPA) by high-current discharge with discharge current amplitude up to 1,5 MA, initiated by wire explosion, are represented in the paper. Owing to high erosion of anode and cathode due to the discharge, equal to 200 – 300 C, passing through them, the average magnitude of metal vapours concentration in the discharge chamber is 10cm20 cm−3, that can be compared to working gas concentration. On the basis of the experimental results and metal plasma conductance calculations data the estimations of the temperature of the discharge channel are given.Using data of the experiments with arcs in hydrogen, nitrogen and helium with current discharge amplitude equal to 20 – 200 kA the conclusion about the defining influence of metal vapours on the properties of the arc itself and on the heat exchange between the arc and the environmental gas is drawn. For example, the increase of arc's turbulence level with the decrease of distance between electrodes is connected with metal streams introduction from electrodes to the near-electrodes areas. The increase of gas heating efficiency with the increase of initiating wire mass is stipulated by metal vapours radiation absorption in the cold zone.