Measurements of power of oxidation reaction during plasma arc cutting of steel with an oxygen plasma

Direct calorimetric measurements allowed us for the first time to experimentally determine the power delivered by iron oxidation during plasma arc current cutting of steel with oxygen as a plasma gas. Experiments were performed with 6.34 mm mild steel cut underwater with a 100 A arc. A comparison of the power input into the water and the electrical power of the arc allowed us to calculate the power of the chemical reaction. The measured power of reaction was approximately 20% of the total electrical power of the arc.