Unsteady three-dimensional model of electric arc. Part 1. Mathematical model and testing results

A non-stationary three-dimensional mathematical model of the electric arc of constant current in the approximation of a partial local thermodynamic equilibrium of plasma is presented. For the purpose of testing the model and computer code a computation of the isothermal laminar viscous fluid flow past a circular cylinder (the testing of the dynamic part of the system of equations) and a computation of the axisymmetric electric arc with a reduced anode attachment have been done. A fair agreement of numerical results with experimental data points overall to the correctness of the mathematical model and the numerical solution technique.