Experimental investigation of an arc heater operated on low gas flow rates

The paper describes the results obtained from experimental operation of the arc heater with intensively blasted electric arc. The device has been designed for investigation of decomposition of stable harmful substances and later its construction has been modified to achieve steady operation with low gas flow rates. The modification consists in reduction the anode channel diameter with a solid cylinder inserted into the input part of the channel. The paper comments the impact of the constructional modification on basic operational characteristics of the arc heater operated on argon and argon/hydrogen mixtures.