Spiral arc quenching

A description of the general behavior of an atmospheric pressure AC and DC spiral arc, during interruption in a narrow cylindrical slot, is presented. The arc duration time and overvoltage have been measured, as a function of magnetic flux density, arc current, slot width, and electrode gap, for different electrode arrangements. Multichannel optical fiber probes and a two-line spectroscopic method have been used for arc temperature measurement and the spatial spread of the arc wake has been determined, along with some associated phenomena.<>