ARC STRUCTURE IN A MAGNETIC ANNULAR DISCHARGE.

Abstract

The structure of an arc in a magnetic annular discharge in hydrogen was computed numerically using non-equilibrium, quasi-one dimensional multicomponent hydrodynamics. The analysis substantiates recent experimental observations of a narrow current and ionization zone near the throat that is distinct from the complicated flow in the supersonic expansion. The numerical results suggest a simple diffusion and heating model for the subsonic portion of the arc. This model gives the important physical processes and permits the development of elementary relations which are useful for estimating parametric behavior. Specifically, formulas are derived giving the scale length of the discharge, fraction ionized, and the relationship between electrical power and flow parameters. Certain constants that are needed by the simple model are deduced by matching the results to the numerical analysis. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1967
Accession Number
AD0658050

Entities

People

  • J. B. Workman

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Chemical Reaction Properties
  • Chemical Reactions
  • Diffusion
  • Hydrodynamics
  • Hydrogen
  • Ionization
  • Numerical Analysis
  • Observation

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
  • Plasma Physics / Magnetohydrodynamics
  • Plasma Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Hypersonics
  • Hypersonics - Hypersonic Flow