Dynamics of the shape of the electric arc and associated magnetogasdynamic flows arising from the opening of initially closed electrodes

Abstract

Investigations have been carried out of an electric arc discharge in atmospheric air at atmospheric pressure, both between commensurable electrodes and massive anodes many times larger than the cathode. The main emphasis is placed on an experimental study of vertical arcs initiated by opening the electrodes by conducting high-speed video recording of the discharge and synchronously taking waveforms of the current and voltage of the arc column. It is shown that the flow of electric current and flows of the interelectrode medium substantially depends on the opening speed of the electrodes and the size and shape of the anodes.