Quenching Properties of an Arc in a Double Flow with a Vortex

The effect of a vortex in a gas flow on an air-blast arc is investigated. The radial density of a vortex in the compressible flow is evaluated with a simple model. The experiments show that the width of a low pressure channel on the axis of the nozzle is comparable to the theoretical values. The measured electric field strength profile is strongly influenced by the presence of such a vortex. In addition, the thermal interrupting capability is drastically lowered by vortex superimposed on the axial gas flow.