Study of the Influence of External Environment to Arc Channel in Argon with Laminar Flow

A 3D model is used to simulate free burning arc, and the influence of external environment to arc channel are discussed. The commercial CFD code FLUENT is used to model the plasma and the solid anode part. The cross-flow (2m/s, 5m/s, and 10m/s) and external magnetic fields (2mT, 5mT, and 10 mT) are applied to deflect arc. And then the condition they work together have also be discussed. Because the mechanisms of the influence are different, they only influences are reflect on the arc root displacement. The influence of arc root displacement to potential drop has been explained.