Prediction of anode temperatures of free burning arcs

Abstract

Predictions of the temperatures of the anode of free burning arcs are made using a theory that treats an arc and its electrodes as a unified system. The theory predicts the temperature distributions of the arc column, the cathode and the anode as a function of the arc operating conditions. Temperature profiles on the surface of copper anodes for arcs in argon are calculated for various arc operating conditions. Theoretical predictions of the threshold current for melting a water-cooled copper anode range from 1260 to 480 A for anode thicknesses ranging from 2 to 10 mm and are in good agreement with experimental results.