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Abstract
Most previous split anode calorimetry research has applied high weld currents which exhibit pseudo Gaussian distributions of arc current and power density. In this paper we investigate low current arcs and show that both the current and power distributions have minima in the centre – varying significantly from the expected Gaussian profile. This was postulated due to the formation of the arc with the copper anode and the tungsten cathode. Furthermore, a number of parameters were varied including the step size between measurements, anode thickness and anode surface condition as well as cathode type and tip geometry. The step size between measurements significantly influenced the distribution profile and the anode thickness needed to be above 7 mm to obtain consistent results.
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to FRONIUS International, Wels, Austria, for producing the split anode calorimeter and granting access to laboratory and equipment. Special gratitude shall be devoted to two colleagues in the Fronius R&D department: Mr Andreas Leonhartsberger for his personal assistance in the design of the calorimeter and his friendly and unselfish support during the experiments; and Mr Daniel Angermayr, for his support in writing the manipulator control software. Finally special thanks are attributed to the peer reviewers for their valuable comments.
ORCID
S. Egerland http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6526-7457