Self-stabilizing arc heater apparatus

Abstract

Abstract AN ARC HEATER TWO GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL ELECTRODES WHICH TOGETHER WITH AN UPSTREAM END PLATE FORM SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE ENCLOSURE OF AN ARC CHAMBER, TWO ELECTRODES ARE ELECTRICALLY INSULATED FROM EACH OTHER AND SEPARATED BY A VERY NARROW GAP THROUGH WHICH PROCESS GAS IS BROUGHT INTO THE CHAMBER AT A VERY HIGH VELOCITY THROUGH A SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL PATH THROUGH THE GAP. A SUFFICIENT SYSTEM VOLTAGE IS MAINTAINED ACROSS THE ELECTRODES AT ALL TIMES TO CAUSE ELECTRICAL BREAKDOWN BETWEEN ELECTRODES IN THE NARROW GAP. THE ARC INITIALLY FORMS IN THE GAP, IS QUICKLY BLOWN BY THE HIGH VELOCITY GAS OUT OF THE GAP INTO THE CHAMBER AND MAY BECOME ELONGATED TO A LENGTH WHEREAT THE VOLTAGE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN THE ARC EXCEEDS THE BREAKDOWN VOLTAGE OF THE GAP WHEREUPON FLASHOVER IN THE GAP OCCURS, THE ARC MOMENTARILY RETURNING TO THE GAP ONLY TO BE IMMEDIATELY BLOWN INTO THE ARC CHAMBER AND ELONGATED AGAIN. MAGNETIC FIELD COILS IN THE ELECTRODE ASSEMBLIES PROVIDE A MAGNETIC FIELD WHICH EXERTS A FORCE ON THE ARC AND CAUSES IT TO ROTATE OVER THE ELECTRODE SURFACES. AN UPSTREAM ADMISSION TUBE EXTENDING THROUGH THE END PLATE IS PROVIDED FOR BRINGING IN ADDITIONAL FEED STOCK IN GASEOUS, LIQUID OR SOLID FORM. THE FIELD COILS MAY BE CONNECTED IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT CIRCUITS TO PROVIDE FIELD SHAPING AS DESIRED. THE ELECTRODES AND FIELD COILS ARE PART OF ELECTRODE ASSEMBLIES WHICH INCLUDE MEANS DEFINING PASSAGEWAYS FOR THE FLOW OF COOLING FLUID TO CONDUCT HEAT FLUX FROM THE ARCING SURFACES. THE UPSTREAM ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY IS MOUNTED ON TWO PAIRS OF LINEAR HOLE BEARINGS ADAPTED TO MOVE ON TWO AXIALLY EXTENDING TIE RODS, AND ALL ELECTRICAL, GAS AND WATER CONNECTIONS TO THE UPSTREAM ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY ARE FLEXIBLE SO THAT THE ARC CHAMBER CAN BE OPENED WITHOUT ANY MAJOR DISCONNECTING OF THE EQUIPMENT. WHEN THE CHAMBER IS OPENED, THE ELECTRODES MAY BE SLIDABLY REMOVED FROM THE REMAINDER OF THE ASSEMBLIES.

Inventors

• 👤 Charles B Wolf
• 👤 Maurice G Fey

Bibliographic Details