Arc movement due to the magnetic field of current flowing in the electrodes

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The fact that an arc moves in the magnetic field of the current flowing in the electrodes towards the arc roots is often used to control its position or to help to bring about its extinction.The paper describes tests made to investigate the factors which affect the movement of an arc between parallel electrodes, fed with current at one end, in air at atmospheric pressure. Some of this movement is quite random and could never be predicted, but much of it—particularly that of the cathode spot—is consistent and regular. The way in which this regular movement of d.c. and a.c. arcs varies with cathode material and electrode spacing has been investigated at currents up to 3000amp a.c. and 500amp d.c.The results show that arc movement cannot be calculated by considering the arc as a physical conductor acted upon by electromagnetic driving forces and aerodynamic retarding forces. The movement is primarily a process of transfer of electron emission along the cathode surface, and is therefore concerned with electrode surface phenomena as well as with movement of the arc in the air between the electrodes.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: