ROTARY MOTION OF REGIONS NEAR THE ELECTRODE AND THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POSITION OF AN ARC COLUMN IN A PLASMATRON WITH GAS VORTEX STABILIZATION,
Abstract
The motion and distribution of an arc column in a vortex stabilized arc jet at constant current were investigated experimentally by means of high speed cameras. Motion pictures were taken 10-15 sec after striking the arc at a speed of 5000 and 125,000 frames per second through a transparent window. The photographs of the arc resemble a comma with the bulge towards the gas flow direction. These results show that in the pressure range 2-6 bar there is a jerky motion of the arc spot near the inside electrode with the radial part of the column on the electrode wall. Furthermore, the diameter of the arc near the axis is much larger than the diameter of the arc in the radial direction. This difference is explained by means of the peculiar distribution of the column in the exit electrode. The rotation rate of the arc was found to be quite steady, with a maximum deviation of 20%. From the brightness magnitude of the arc spot diameter the current density in the arc spot diameter, as well as the specific energy flow, were estimated. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 16, 1968
- Accession Number
- AD0679726
Entities
People
- L. I. Kolonina
- V. Ya. Smolyakov
Organizations
- National Air and Space Intelligence Center