HIGH GAS FLOW RATE ARC HEATER HAVING IMPROVED SELF- STARTING FEATURE

13 An upstream substantially cylindrical electrode is axially spaced from a downstream cylindrical electrode thereby forming a space between the electrodes. A starter tip is extended into the space thereby forming a smaller gap between the starter tip and the closest cylindrical electrode. An electric arc is initiated between the starter tip and the closest cylindrical electrode thereby initating an arc between the substantially cylindrical electrodes. The potential of the starter tip may be equal to or differing from the potential of the cylindrical electrodes. Since the starter tip presents a small gap over a small part of the space forming the perimeter of the cylindrical electrodes, the self-starting characteristics and break-down gap characteristics which are normally only present in smaller gap designs are maintained. Additionally, power supply and power requirements for the arc heater itself are minimized.