Heat flux density distribution on the electrodes of an arc

A general formula is derived for the radiant heat flux density on the surfaces of the electrodes of an electric arc. The formula is applied to a vertical arc burning above a cone-shaped electrode. In the case of a ${90^ \circ }$ cone, or flat plate, the heat flux density distribution shares the same general form as the Gaussian distribution. It is shown that the effect of decreasing the cone angle is to increase the flux density at the cone vertex and to diminish this flux elsewhere on the cone surface.