Application of Approximate Similarity for Correlating ARC Characteristics

Some results of an approximate similarity approach are presented applied to electric arc discharges and the underlying basic criteria are delineated. It is shown that the most important process may be specified for each type of discharge from which arc parameters mainly depend on. In addition to the main process, a number of other processes are also involved which exert a weaker influence on the arc parameters. Taking these processes also into account permits a more precise derivation of generalized relations.