Behaviour of electromagnetically rotated arcs in gas heaters and circuit interrupters

Magnetically rotated arcs are used in many commercial devices. The authors examine the communality of the fundamental processes which govern the behaviour of devices which use electromagnetically driven arcs. Two representative applications of such arcs are considered. The first device is used to produce a uniformly heated gas for use in the processing industry and is a DC-operated device; the second is designed to interrupt alternating fault currents on electricity-distribution networks. Experimental information and their theoretical modelling of the two types of devices are considered, particularly relating to the shape and velocity of the electric arc under the two operating connections.