State diagrams of a steady arc discharge in argon and carbon dioxide

The temperature as well as specific and integrated powers of energy mechanisms for sustaining a steady equilibrium arc discharge in a cylindrical channel in argon and carbon dioxide under atmospheric pressure are determined by solving the Elenbaas-Heller equation for various values of current I and radius R. The results of computations are represented in the form of state diagrams intended for estimating the main energy parameters of electric arcs for preset values of I and R. For carbon dioxide, the effect of screening of the heat conduction mechanism at the discharge boundary, which is due to a peculiar temperature dependence of radiation properties, is detected.