Application of magnetic pinch force to arc plasma processes

摘要

An investigation is carried out to estimate the importance of magnetic pinch force in arc plasma devices for heterogeneous processing. This magnetic force is quite appreciable in dc arc devices. A theoretical analysis is presented for its evaluation as a function of the operating parameters. Examples are given for three such cases. Estimated values of pinch force, MHD streaming velocity, mass flow rate, circulation, required generator power, and other related values are presented. The magnetic pinch force has a small effect over the entire volume of plasma but it is significant near the arc root (theoretically, near any constriction) and may be advantageously used in directing solid reagents along the magnetohydrodynamic lines of force into the bulk of the arc, with the help of an external flow.