Computer simulation of a wall stabilized arc in a transverse magnetic field

Summary form only given. The behavior of a wall stabilized argon arc at atmospheric pressure subjected to a transverse magnetic field is investigated by solving the arc conservation equations based on local thermal equilibrium (LTE) and relevant Maxwell´s equations. The Lorentz force consists of two components: one due to the interaction of the arcing current with the externally imposed magnetic field and the other with its own magnetic field. Two methods, the net emission coefficient and the partial characteristic method, are used to calculate the radiation transport. The Lorentz force produces two vortices symmetrical with respect to the tube diameter, which is parallel to the Lorentz force. The highest temperature region is moved towards the wall in the direction of the Lorentz force. Computational results are given for currents from 40A to 120A and the imposed magnetic field up to 22.5mT. The computed temperature, electric field, and pressure are compared with the experimental results of Sauter (1969). At high currents, there is a good agreement between prediction and experimental results. The agreement becomes progressively poorer when the current is reduced. This is attributed to the assumption of LTE, which is no longer valid in certain regions of the arc at low currents.