A hot refractory anode vacuum arc: nonstationary plasma model

Abstract

A plasma model for a new form of arc operated initially as a multicathode-spot vacuum arc and material from the cathode spot jets deposits on the anode is proposed. The arc named hot refractory anode vacuum arc (HRAVA) has a thermally isolated anode and cooled cathode. The plasma model considers the re-evaporation of the deposit cathode material from the heated anode and the interaction of the cathode spot plasma jets with anode plasma. A system of time-dependent equations were formulated and solved for the heat flux from the plasma to the anode surface, heat conduction within the anode, electron energy balance, and heavy particle conservation in the anode plasma plume. The calculations show that the plasma electron temperature decreases while the anode temperature increases with time.Index Terms-Anode effective voltage, anode heat conductance, cathode plasma jet, cathode plasma jet interaction, hot anode, plasma energy balance, plasma model, radial plasma flux, re-evaporation, vacuum arc.