Arc Spot Movement and Its Effect on Flow in an AC Plasma Torch

AC electric arc plasma torches are promising thermal plasma generators for a wide range of applications. New models of plasma torches are used both for heating the plasma-forming gas, and as independent models of plasma-chemical reactors with the required composition of the gas mixture at the output. In the electric discharge chambers of such devices, processes of various physical nature occur simultaneously. Computer simulation of the combination of these processes provides an opportunity to optimize existing and develop new plasma technologies. One of the important processes is the movement of the arc spot in the channel of the plasma torch. Moving the arc spot over the electrode surface is used as one of the main techniques to ensure good performance and increase non-stop operation of devices. To date, there is no complete mathematical model of the AC plasma torch considering the dynamics of the arc binding. The main goal of the work is to analyze the possibility of using experimental data on the dynamics of the movement of arc spot in the channels of an AC plasma torch to build an appropriate data-driven model. Data on the arc spot movement is obtained using high-speed video recording. The reconstruction of the equations describing t h e dynamics of the motion of the electric arc spot on the electrode surface involves the subsequent use of generative design methods.