NOVEL EQUIVALENT ELECTRIC-NETWORK APPROACH FOR THE 3-D MHD MODELING OF EML PLASMA ARMATURES

In this paper an equivalent network model for the three-dimensional an alysis of an EML plasma armature is presented. We decompose the plasma armature in elementary volume elements in which a uniform distributio n of the current density, momentum density and heat flux is assumed, A first equivalent electric network is obtained for the determination o f the current density and magnetic field distribution in the plasma ar e at each time step, Assuming the same plasma are decomposition, and d efining a formal analogy between thermodynamic and electric quantities in the momentum and mass conservation equations, we obtain a second e quivalent electric network that allows the determination of the pressu re and the mass density distribution and the internal motions in the p lasma are at each time step, Adopting the same procedure, we obtain an other equivalent network from the energy equation that allows the dete rmination of the temperature in the plasma are at each time step. The ionisation coefficient distribution is calculated from Saha's equation . Considering an isothermal plasma with no ablation, calculated result s are reported to show the influence of the 3-D model on the distribut ions of the main thermodynamic quantities of the plasma arc.