The optimization of wall-stabilized arcs

If the transport properties of a gas are known, solutions of the energy balance of a wall-stabilized arc can be obtained and may be used for the design of particular arcs. The method is illustrated with argon arcs in the temperature range 8000°K ≤T≤25 000°K and at different pressures up to 100 atm. Nomographs containing the computed arc parameters allow the optimization of an arc column if the effects of radiation absorption, flow fields, and magnetic fields are negligible. Comparisons of the presented data with experimental results obtained at 1 atm and 50 atm show good agreement and confirm the results.