Surrounding Gas Flow Research Articles

The effect of an axial air flow on low-current DC arcs

The effect of an impressed axial flow on the characteristics of a low-current DC are burning between copper electrodes is examined. A model for the system is assumed in which the arc core is considered as a heated solid rod transferring heat to the surrounding gas flow by conduction. An analysis of the heat transfer process leads to an expression describing the arc characteristics under these conditions, and a good correlation of the experimental data. A transition from convection- to flow-dominated régimes is observed at air flows above 4-6 m s−1.