Three-dimensional effects inside a dc arc plasma torch

Three-dimensional (3-D), quasi-steady heat and flow patterns inside a direct current arc plasma torch are calculated for different parameter settings by using Steenbeck´s minimum principle. Of particular interest is the axial position of the anode arc-root at the anode surface and the resulting shape of the arc plasma. The predicted anode arc-root attachment position and the arc shape are in reasonable agreement with experimental observations.