AN ANODE COMPARISON STUDY IN A WALL-STABILIZED ARGON ARC.

Abstract

Experiments were conducted to determine whether or not transpiration cooling the anode of a cascaded, wall-stabilized, argon arc could substantially reduce the net power loss to the anode. A water-cooled copper anode and a geometrically similar porous graphite transpiration-cooled anode were used to make a direct comparison of the power losses. In addition, complete heat balances of the arc using both anode types were made. These measurements gave the losses to the other apparatus components. From these measurements and a proposed model for the energy transfer to the anode, anode fall values were calculated for the case of the water-cooled anode. In addition, the contribution of the various modes of energy transfer to the anode were determined. Heat flux measurements to the segmented constrictor tube were used to determine the local radiation and conduction to the wall. Also, measurements were made of the arc voltage - current characteristics and the voltage distribution along the plasma column from which the field strength can be determined. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 1965
Accession Number
AD0628613

Entities

People

  • E. Pfender
  • E. R. G. Eckert
  • G. D. Raithby

Organizations

  • University of Minnesota

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Energy
  • Energy Transfer
  • Graphitic Materials
  • Heat Balance
  • Heat Energy
  • Heat Flux
  • Measurement
  • Radiation
  • Segmented

Readers

  • Plasma Physics.