Preliminary investigation of arc stabilization with a forced vortex

The stabilization of an arc using a forced vortex was studied experimentally. Measurements on the arc characteristics were made as a function of the stabilizing flow parameters. It was found that the behaviour of the arc may be understood in terms of measurements made on the stabilizing flow without the arc. It is concluded that stable arc operation may be achieved using forced vortex stabilization, but that in open-ended systems end effects on the vortex are likely to cause severe convective losses in the arc.