Created in COMSOL Multiphysics 6.

Two-Dimensional Transient Arc

D i sc h arge S i m u l at i on

This model is licensed under the COMSOL Software License Agreement 6.3.
All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. See www.comsol.com/trademarks.
Introduction
This model presents a 2D simulation of transient arc discharge movement along guided
copper rails. While accurately modeling transient arcs typically requires a 3D simulation,
the 2D approach offers greater efficiency and remains valuable for initial investigations and
demonstration purposes.

Model Definition
For more information, see the 3D version model Transient Arc Discharge in Guided
Copper Rails.

Results and Discussion

Figure 1 shows the temperature distribution of the electric arc developed at t = 4.5 ms,
where the arc reaches a maximum temperature of 20 kK. Although it is a 2D model, the
arc roots at the anode and cathode are clearly distinguishable and closely resemble those
observed in a 3D model.

Figure 2 and Figure 3 compare the simulated arc voltage and displacement with
experimental results, respectively. While the simulated values show some deviation from
the experimental data, they can still be useful for quick preliminary investigations.

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Figure 1: LTE arc temperature.

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Figure 2: Comparison of the simulated and measured arc voltage.

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Figure 3: Comparison of the simulated and measured arc displacement.

Application Library path: Electric_Discharge_Module/Arc_Discharges/

transient_arc_2d

Modeling Instructions
From the File menu, choose New.

NEW
In the New window, click Model Wizard.

MODEL WIZARD
1 In the Model Wizard window, click 2D.
2 In the Select Physics tree, select Electric Discharge > Arc Discharge.
3 Click Add.
4 Click Study.

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5 In the Select Study tree, select General Studies > Stationary.
6 Click Done.

GLOBAL DEFINITIONS

Parameters 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Global Definitions click Parameters 1.
2 In the Settings window for Parameters, locate the Parameters section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:

Name Expression Value Description

L 220[mm] 0.22 m Copper rail length
L_wire 20[mm] 0.02 m Ignition wire position
r0 10[mm] 0.01 m Electrode radius
gap 10[mm] 0.01 m Rail gap
d 6[mm] 0.006 m Out-of-plane thickness
ts_ms 0.4 0.4 Simulation start time in ms
t ts_ms[ms] 4E-4 s Time

Interpolation 1 (int1)
1 In the Home toolbar, click Functions and choose Global > Interpolation.
2 In the Settings window for Interpolation, locate the Definition section.
3 In the Function name text field, type ic.
4 Click Load from File.
5 Browse to the model’s Application Libraries folder and double-click the file ic400.txt.
6 Locate the Interpolation and Extrapolation section. From the Interpolation list, choose
Piecewise cubic.
7 From the Extrapolation list, choose Linear.
8 Locate the Units section. In the Function table, enter the following settings:

Function Unit
ic A

9 In the Argument table, enter the following settings:

Argument Unit
t ms

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GEOMETRY 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1) click Geometry 1.
2 In the Settings window for Geometry, locate the Units section.
3 From the Length unit list, choose mm.

Rectangle 1 (r1)
1 In the Geometry toolbar, click Rectangle.
2 In the Settings window for Rectangle, locate the Size and Shape section.
3 In the Width text field, type L.
4 In the Height text field, type r0+gap+r0.
5 Click to expand the Layers section. In the table, enter the following settings:

Layer name Thickness (mm)

Layer 1 r0
Layer 2 gap

6 Click Build Selected.

Circle 1 (c1)
1 In the Geometry toolbar, click Circle.
2 In the Settings window for Circle, locate the Size and Shape section.
3 In the Radius text field, type L*2.
4 Locate the Position section. In the x text field, type L/2.
5 In the y text field, type (r0+gap+r0)/2.
6 Click Build All Objects.
7 Click the Zoom Extents button in the Graphics toolbar.

MAGNETIC AND ELECTRIC FIELDS (MEF)

1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1) click
Magnetic and Electric Fields (mef).
2 In the Settings window for Magnetic and Electric Fields, locate the Thickness section.
3 In the d text field, type d.

Ampère’s Law 1
1 In the Physics toolbar, click Domains and choose Ampère’s Law.
2 Select Domain 1 only.

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HEAT TRANSFER IN FLUIDS (HT)
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1) click
Heat Transfer in Fluids (ht).
2 In the Settings window for Heat Transfer in Fluids, locate the Physical Model section.
3 In the dz text field, type d.
4 Select Domains 1 and 3 only.

LAMINAR FLOW (SPF)

1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1) click Laminar Flow (spf).
2 Select Domains 1 and 3 only.

MAGNETIC AND ELECTRIC FIELDS (MEF)

In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1) click
Magnetic and Electric Fields (mef).

Magnetic Insulation 2
1 In the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Magnetic Insulation.
2 Click the Zoom Box button in the Graphics toolbar.
3 Select Boundaries 1, 3, and 5 only.

Terminal 1
1 In the Physics toolbar, click Attributes and choose Terminal.
2 Click the Zoom Box button in the Graphics toolbar.
3 Select Boundary 5 only.
4 In the Settings window for Terminal, locate the Terminal section.
5 In the I0 text field, type ic(t).

Magnetic Insulation 2
In the Model Builder window, click Magnetic Insulation 2.

Electric Insulation 1
1 In the Physics toolbar, click Attributes and choose Electric Insulation.
2 Select Boundary 3 only.

Gauge Fixing for A-field 1

In the Physics toolbar, click Domains and choose Gauge Fixing for A-field.

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DEFINITIONS

Variables 1
1 In the Model Builder window, expand the Component 1 (comp1) > Definitions node.
2 Right-click Definitions and choose Variables.
3 In the Settings window for Variables, locate the Variables section.
4 In the table, enter the following settings:

Name Expression Unit Description

T0 12000[K]*exp(-((x- K Initial temperature
L_wire)/d)^2)+293.15[K]

HEAT TRANSFER IN FLUIDS (HT)

Initial Values 2
1 In the Physics toolbar, click Domains and choose Initial Values.
2 Select Domain 3 only.
3 In the Settings window for Initial Values, locate the Initial Values section.
4 In the T text field, type T0.

Outflow 1
1 In the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Outflow.
2 Click the Zoom Extents button in the Graphics toolbar.
3 Select Boundaries 11–14 only.

Heat Flux 1
1 In the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Heat Flux.
2 Click the Select Box button in the Graphics toolbar.
3 Select Boundaries 1, 2, 4–8, and 10 only.
4 In the Settings window for Heat Flux, locate the Heat Flux section.
5 From the Flux type list, choose Convective heat flux.
6 In the h text field, type 600.

Surface-to-Ambient Radiation 1
1 In the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Surface-to-Ambient Radiation.
2 Select Boundaries 4 and 6 only.
3 In the Settings window for Surface-to-Ambient Radiation, locate the Surface-to-
Ambient Radiation section.

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4 From the  list, choose User defined. In the associated text field, type 0.5.

LAMINAR FLOW (SPF)

Outlet 1
1 In the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Outlet.
2 Click the Zoom Extents button in the Graphics toolbar.
3 Select Boundaries 11–14 only.

MULTIPHYSICS

Equilibrium Discharge Heat Source 1 (phs1)

1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1) > Multiphysics click
Equilibrium Discharge Heat Source 1 (phs1).
2 Select Domains 1 and 3 only.

ADD MATERIAL
1 In the Materials toolbar, click Add Material to open the Add Material window.
2 Go to the Add Material window.
3 In the tree, select Equilibrium Discharge > Air (1[atm]).
4 Right-click and choose Add to Component 1 (comp1).
5 In the Materials toolbar, click Add Material to close the Add Material window.

MATERIALS

Air (1[atm]) (mat1)

1 Select Domains 1 and 3 only.
2 In the Settings window for Material, locate the Material Contents section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:

Property Variable Value Unit Property group

Density rho rho(T)*spf.pA/ kg/m³ Basic
1[atm]

Cu
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Materials and choose Blank Material.
2 In the Settings window for Material, type Cu in the Label text field.
3 Select Domains 2 and 4 only.

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4 Locate the Material Contents section. In the table, enter the following settings:

Property Variable Value Unit Property

group
Relative permeability mur_iso ; murii 1 1 Basic
= mur_iso,
murij = 0
Electric conductivity sigma_iso ; 1e7 S/m Basic
sigmaii =
sigma_iso,
sigmaij = 0
Relative permittivity epsilonr_iso ; 1 1 Basic
epsilonrii =
epsilonr_iso,
epsilonrij = 0

MESH 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1) click Mesh 1.
2 In the Settings window for Mesh, locate the Physics-Controlled Mesh section.
3 In the table, clear the Use checkboxes for Magnetic and Electric Fields (mef),
Heat Transfer in Fluids (ht), Laminar Flow (spf),
Equilibrium Discharge Heat Source 1 (phs1), and Magnetohydrodynamics 1 (mhd1).
4 Click Build All.
5 Locate the Sequence Type section. From the list, choose User-controlled mesh.

Size 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Free Triangular 1 and choose Size.
2 In the Settings window for Size, locate the Geometric Entity Selection section.
3 From the Geometric entity level list, choose Domain.
4 Select Domain 3 only.
5 Locate the Element Size section. Click the Custom button.
6 Locate the Element Size Parameters section.
7 Select the Maximum element size checkbox. In the associated text field, type 0.5.

Free Triangular 2
1 In the Mesh toolbar, click Free Triangular.
2 In the Settings window for Free Triangular, click Build All.

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STUDY 1

Step 1: Stationary
1 In the Model Builder window, under Study 1 click Step 1: Stationary.
2 In the Settings window for Stationary, locate the Physics and Variables Selection section.
3 In the Solve for column of the table, under Component 1 (comp1), clear the checkboxes
for Heat Transfer in Fluids (ht) and Laminar Flow (spf).

Step 2: Time Dependent

1 In the Study toolbar, click Study Steps and choose Time Dependent >
Time Dependent.
2 In the Settings window for Time Dependent, locate the Study Settings section.
3 From the Time unit list, choose ms.
4 In the Output times text field, type range(ts_ms,0.1,4.5).

Solution 1 (sol1)
1 In the Study toolbar, click Show Default Solver.
2 In the Model Builder window, expand the Solution 1 (sol1) node.
3 In the Model Builder window, expand the Study 1 > Solver Configurations >
Solution 1 (sol1) > Stationary Solver 1 node, then click Direct.
4 In the Settings window for Direct, locate the General section.
5 From the Solver list, choose PARDISO.
6 In the Model Builder window, under Study 1 > Solver Configurations > Solution 1 (sol1)
click Time-Dependent Solver 1.
7 In the Settings window for Time-Dependent Solver, click to expand the Time Stepping
section.
8 From the Steps taken by solver list, choose Free.
9 From the Maximum step constraint list, choose Constant.
10 In the Maximum step text field, type 2[us].
11 Right-click Study 1 > Solver Configurations > Solution 1 (sol1) > Time-Dependent Solver 1
and choose Segregated.
12 In the Model Builder window, expand the Study 1 > Solver Configurations >
Solution 1 (sol1) > Time-Dependent Solver 1 > Segregated 1 node.
13 Right-click Study 1 > Solver Configurations > Solution 1 (sol1) > Time-Dependent Solver 1
> Segregated 1 and choose Segregated Step.
14 In the Settings window for Segregated Step, locate the General section.

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15 In the Variables list, choose Pressure (comp1.p), Temperature (comp1.T), and
Velocity Field (comp1.u).
16 Under Variables, click Delete.
17 Click to expand the Method and Termination section. From the Jacobian update list,
choose Once per time step.
18 In the Label text field, type Electromagnetics.
19 In the Model Builder window, under Study 1 > Solver Configurations > Solution 1 (sol1) >
Time-Dependent Solver 1 > Segregated 1 click Segregated Step 1.
20 In the Settings window for Segregated Step, locate the General section.
21 Under Variables, click Add.
22 In the Add dialog, in the Variables list, choose Pressure (comp1.p),
Temperature (comp1.T), and Velocity Field (comp1.u).
23 Click OK.
24 In the Settings window for Segregated Step, type Fluid & Heat in the Label text field.
25 Locate the Method and Termination section. In the Damping factor text field, type 0.8.
26 From the Jacobian update list, choose Once per time step.
27 In the Model Builder window, under Study 1 > Solver Configurations > Solution 1 (sol1) >
Time-Dependent Solver 1 click Direct (Merged).
28 In the Settings window for Direct, locate the General section.
29 From the Solver list, choose PARDISO.
30 In the Study toolbar, click Compute.

RESULTS

Streamline 1
1 In the Model Builder window, expand the Results > Magnetic Flux Density (mef) node.
2 Right-click Streamline 1 and choose Delete.

Selection 1
1 In the Model Builder window, expand the Temperature (ht) node.
2 Right-click Surface 1 and choose Selection.
3 Select Domain 3 only.

Surface 1
1 In the Model Builder window, click Surface 1.

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2 In the Settings window for Surface, locate the Expression section.
3 From the Unit list, choose kK.
4 Locate the Coloring and Style section. From the Color table list, choose ThermalClassic.

Temperature (ht)
1 In the Model Builder window, click Temperature (ht).
2 In the Settings window for 2D Plot Group, locate the Color Legend section.
3 Select the Show maximum and minimum values checkbox.
4 Locate the Plot Settings section. Clear the Plot dataset edges checkbox.
5 In the Temperature (ht) toolbar, click Plot.
6 Click the Zoom Extents button in the Graphics toolbar.

Table 1
1 In the Results toolbar, click Table.
2 In the Settings window for Table, locate the Data section.
3 Click Import.
4 Browse to the model’s Application Libraries folder and double-click the file
data0400.txt.

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Table 2
1 In the Results toolbar, click Table.
2 In the Settings window for Table, locate the Data section.
3 Click Import.
4 Browse to the model’s Application Libraries folder and double-click the file
data0400x.txt.

Current and Voltage

1 In the Results toolbar, click 1D Plot Group.
2 In the Settings window for 1D Plot Group, type Current and Voltage in the Label text
field.
3 Locate the Plot Settings section. Select the Two y-axes checkbox.

Table Graph 1
1 Right-click Current and Voltage and choose Table Graph.
2 In the Settings window for Table Graph, locate the Data section.
3 From the Plot columns list, choose Manual.
4 In the Columns list, select I (A).
5 Click to expand the Legends section. Select the Show legends checkbox.
6 In the Current and Voltage toolbar, click Plot.
7 From the Legends list, choose Manual.
8 In the table, enter the following settings:

Legends
I (A), experiments

Table Graph 2
1 Right-click Table Graph 1 and choose Duplicate.
2 In the Settings window for Table Graph, locate the Data section.
3 In the Columns list, select V (V).
4 Locate the y-Axis section. Select the Plot on secondary y-axis checkbox.
5 Locate the Legends section. In the table, enter the following settings:

Legends
V (V), experiments

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Global 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Current and Voltage and choose Global.
2 In the Settings window for Global, locate the Data section.
3 From the Dataset list, choose Study 1/Solution 1 (sol1).
4 Locate the y-Axis Data section. In the table, enter the following settings:

Expression Unit Description

comp1.mef.I0_1 A Terminal current

5 Click to expand the Coloring and Style section. Find the Line markers subsection. From
the Marker list, choose Cycle.
6 From the Positioning list, choose Interpolated.

Global 2
1 Right-click Global 1 and choose Duplicate.
2 In the Settings window for Global, locate the y-Axis Data section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:

Expression Unit Description

comp1.mef.V0_1 V Terminal voltage

4 Locate the y-Axis section. Select the Plot on secondary y-axis checkbox.

Current and Voltage

1 In the Model Builder window, click Current and Voltage.
2 In the Settings window for 1D Plot Group, locate the Plot Settings section.
3 Select the x-axis label checkbox. In the associated text field, type Time, ms.
4 Select the y-axis label checkbox. In the associated text field, type Current, A.
5 Select the Secondary y-axis label checkbox. In the associated text field, type Voltage, V.
6 Locate the Axis section. Select the Manual axis limits checkbox.
7 In the x minimum text field, type 0.
8 In the x maximum text field, type 4.5.

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9 In the Current and Voltage toolbar, click Plot.

COMPONENT 1 (COMP1)
In the Model Builder window, expand the Component 1 (comp1) node.

DEFINITIONS

Maximum 1 (maxop1)
1 In the Model Builder window, expand the Component 1 (comp1) > Definitions node.
2 Right-click Definitions and choose Nonlocal Couplings > Maximum.
3 In the Settings window for Maximum, locate the Source Selection section.
4 From the Geometric entity level list, choose Boundary.
5 Select Boundary 6 only.

Maximum 2 (maxop2)
1 In the Definitions toolbar, click Nonlocal Couplings and choose Maximum.
2 In the Settings window for Maximum, locate the Source Selection section.
3 From the Geometric entity level list, choose Boundary.
4 Select Boundary 4 only.

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Variables 1
1 In the Model Builder window, click Variables 1.
2 In the Settings window for Variables, locate the Variables section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:

Name Expression Unit Description

disp_a maxop1(x* m Simulated arc
(T==maxop1(T)))-L_wire displacement (anode)
disp_c maxop2(x* m Simulated arc
(T==maxop2(T)))-L_wire displacement (cathode)

STUDY 1
1 In the Model Builder window, expand the Study 1 node.
2 Right-click Study 1 and choose Update Solution.

RESULTS

Arc Root Displacement

1 In the Results toolbar, click 1D Plot Group.
2 In the Settings window for 1D Plot Group, type Arc Root Displacement in the Label
text field.

Table Graph 1
1 Right-click Arc Root Displacement and choose Table Graph.
2 In the Settings window for Table Graph, locate the Data section.
3 From the Table list, choose Table 2.
4 Click to expand the Legends section. Select the Show legends checkbox.
5 In the Arc Root Displacement toolbar, click Plot.
6 From the Legends list, choose Manual.
7 In the table, enter the following settings:

Legends
Experiments (anode)
Experiments (cathode)

Global 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Arc Root Displacement and choose Global.
2 In the Settings window for Global, locate the y-Axis Data section.

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3 In the table, enter the following settings:

Expression Unit Description

comp1.disp_a mm Simulated arc displacement (anode)
comp1.disp_c mm Simulated arc displacement (cathode)

4 Click to expand the Coloring and Style section. Find the Line markers subsection. From
the Marker list, choose Cycle.
5 From the Positioning list, choose Interpolated.

Arc Root Displacement

1 In the Model Builder window, click Arc Root Displacement.
2 In the Settings window for 1D Plot Group, locate the Legend section.
3 From the Position list, choose Lower right.
4 Locate the Plot Settings section.
5 Select the x-axis label checkbox. In the associated text field, type Time, ms.
6 Select the y-axis label checkbox. In the associated text field, type Arc root
displacement, mm.

7 Locate the Axis section. Select the Manual axis limits checkbox.
8 In the x minimum text field, type 0.
9 In the x maximum text field, type 4.5.
10 In the y minimum text field, type -10.
11 In the y maximum text field, type 180.
12 Locate the Legend section. From the Position list, choose Upper left.

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13 In the Arc Root Displacement toolbar, click Plot.

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