Numerical study of a free-burning argon arc with copper contamination fromthe anode

The present modeling of a free-burning argon are accounts for copper vapor contamination from the anode. Simulations are made for an atmospheric are t hat has a length of 10 mm and an electric current of 200 amps. Predicted re sults for two different anode evaporation rates are compared to those from a pure argon are with no copper vapor contamination. Copper vapor concentra tion, temperature, electric potential, and current density profiles are pre sented. Included in this analysis are radiation losses from both the argon and copper by using recently calculated net emission coefficients. It was f ound that evaporation of copper from the anode results in a cooling of the are in a region close to the anode, but has an insignificant influence on t he are close to the cathode. Due to the are flow characteristics most of th e copper vapor fends to be confined to the anode region.