Plasma Column Generation Study.
Abstract
A study has been conducted on methods of producing unconfined plasma columns of length one to twenty meters in air at atmospheric pressure. Turbulent combustion gas jet and flammable liquid jets were considered for producing the plasma columns, which were to be utilized as an antenna for electromagnetic radiation. Premixed combustion and diffusion combustion gas jets were both considered. Jets of flammable liquid have several desirable characteristics. A mass flow of about 0.1 pound per second produces heights of seven to ten meters whereas a flow of one pound per second produces heights from 13 to 25 meters. The higher values of height are estimates for viscoelastic liquids, such as used in flame throwers, which do not breakup into spray. The liquid jets are also relatively simple devices and modest in cost. It was found that seeding with a low ionization potential material, such as a potassium salt, would be a necessity in most cases, and highly desirable in all cases investigated. The gas jet configuration requires a mass flow rate of approximately one pound per second to form an antenna one to two meters in length. For practical purposes, the antenna length is proportional to the square of the mass flow rate. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1969
- Accession Number
- AD0859396
Entities
People
- A. J. Hoehn
- E. K. Parks
- Paul S. Masser Ii
- R. E. Petersen
- W. Cramer