SURVEY OF INVESTIGATIONS OF ELECTRIC ARC INTERACTIONS WITH MAGNETIC AND AERODYNAMIC FIELDS

The report summarizes and evaluates the existing literature related to the interaction of an electric arc at pressure levels of one atmosphere or greater with magnetic fields and/or aerodynamic fields which are transverse to the arc column. The scope of this survey does not include the subject of retrograde motion. For the purposes of this survey, the subject is broken up according to whether or not there is net arc motion with respect to the electrodes. When motion occurs, the arc is designated a travelling arc; this is the type of arc which occurs in rail accelerators, arc heaters utilizing magnetically rotated arcs and electric switchgear circuit breakers. When the arc undergoes no net motion with respect to the electrodes it is designated a stationary arc; this type occurs when the arc is balanced in a transverse gas flow by an appropriate transverse magnetic field. The report summarizes the results of the various investigations and presents them graphically for easy comparison. General conclusions which may be drawn from the investigations are presented. (Author)