Further Development of Mathematical Models for Free-Burning Electric Arcs

A mathematical model predicting the electric arc plasma behavior in air and atmospheric pressure is developed. Modeling algorithms are reported for free-burning (rather than wall stabilized) dc-arc parameters, such as the arc radial temperature distribution <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$T(r)$</tex-math> , electric field <tex-math notation="LaTeX">E</tex-math> along the arc column, and arc radius <tex-math notation="LaTeX">r₀</tex-math> (radius of the electrically conductive zone <tex-math notation="LaTeX">σ > 0</tex-math> ). Such arcs may have more complex structures than wall-stabilized arcs. Examples of such arcs are electromagnetically rotated arcs, electric arc furnaces (EAFs), and lightning return stroke (LRS). By comparison with experimental data and with more precise calculations, the model was validated practically and theoretically and formed the basis for investigating the behavior of complex electromagnetically convoluted arcs in the process of interrupting direct currents.