Thermal analysis of an arc heater electrode with a rotating arc footA smoothly rotating arc foot and an arc foot that jumps between multiple sticking points were analyzed using analytic formulations and numerical solution procedures. For each case the temperature distribution for a copper electrode was obtained for the plausible range of operating conditions. It is shown that the smoothly rotating arc foot is an extremely safe mode of operation, whereas the jumping arc foot produces excessively high electrode surface temperatures which are not greatly alleviated by increasing the average rotational frequency of the arc foot. It is suggested to eliminate arc-foot rotation and rely on the distribution of fixed electrodes with stationary arc attachment to avoid electrode failure at high current.
Document ID
19930062593
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Milos, Frank S. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Shepard, Charles E. (Eloret Inst. Palo Alto, CA, United States)