Over recovery in low pressure spark gaps-confirmation of pressurereduction in over recovery

The over recovery in sparkgaps (Nagesh, 1997, Nagesh et al., 1999) operating along the left-hand side of Paschens' characteristics is due to pressure reduction in the gap after the first pulse discharge. This pressure reduction leading to over recovery in low pressure spark gaps has been verified using a low pressure spark gap with two spark gaps placed one above the other in the same chamber. The breakdown voltage strength characteristics of the second gap has been determined for gap spacings of 3.5 mm to 10 mm, diffusion of plasma in the direction of vacuum pumping and opposite, at a pressure of 2.1 Pa for hydrogen gas. The vacuum pumping direction has a great influence on the breakdown strength characteristics of second gap after the first gap discharge. The breakdown voltage of the second gap can exceed its self breakdown voltage only 1) when the diffusion of plasma and vacuum pumping direction are same and 2) when the second gap spacing is greater than or equal to first gap spacing. Shorter gaps can always have breakdown voltage lower than or equal to their self breakdown voltage. The experimental setups, behavior of self breakdown voltages of second gap due to breakdown in the first gap, over recovery characteristics of spark gaps, the results, and discussions are presented here     

Factors affecting and methods of improving the pulse repetitionfrequency of pulse-charged and DC-charged high-pressure gasswitches

The results of this paper describe some of the factors which affect the repetitive operation of high-pressure gas switches (spark gaps) for both pulse-charged and DC-charged operation. Also discussed are methods which may be employed to improve the pulse repetition frequency (PRF) of spark gaps operating under such conditions. Under pulse-charged conditions, the voltage recovery process of the spark gap has been shown to be restricted following partial density recovery by the residual ion population. This restriction may be minimized by applying a suitable bias voltage across the gap to remove the ion influence. It is also possible to manipulate the voltage-pressure (V-p) breakdown characteristic of a spark gap in order to improve the rate of rise of recovery voltage by reducing the recovery voltage dependence upon gas pressure. The combination of these effects has been shown to reduce the voltage recovery time of pulse-charged spark gaps from several hundred milliseconds to several milliseconds. Under DC-charged conditions, where no “dead time” is available for voltage recovery, it is possible to employ corona discharge effects, which occur in highly nonuniform fields, to stabilize and control the breakdown process. The use of corona stabilization has enabled the operation of a self-closing spark gap at a PRF of more than 5 kHz, without employing gas flow techniques. A triggered version of a corona-stabilized spark gap has also been developed which has demonstrated single run capabilities of 10⁷ (4 h continuous operation at 700 pps) and a lifetime of ~10 shots (maintenance free, sealed switch). The triggered corona switch has also demonstrated controlled switching up to a PRF of 1.2 kHz     

Recovery properties of vacuum spark gaps

The authors investigated the recovery properties of a 90-kV, 15-kA multiple site, triggered vacuum spark gap. Triggering was accomplished with a multisite surface flashover plasma source with approximately 60 sites distributed over a 10 cm² area. Gap dimensions were 1-cm spacing by 7.5-cm diameter. Recovery measurements were performed utilizing an inductively recharged double pulse circuit. Under a sinusoidal recharge, the time to a 40-kV recovery occurred in 330 μs for an average current fall rate approaching 10¹⁰ A/s. These vacuum spark gap switches may provide an alternative method of high-average-power switching     

Study on a New Ignition Method of the Spark Gap Based on Plasma Ejection in Air

A new ignition method of the spark gap based on plasma ejection is proposed in this paper, as the conventional trigatron spark gap performs poorly under the low working coefficient (the ratio of the charging voltage to the self‐breakdown voltage) in air. The plasma is generated by the capillary discharge, which has high pressure, high temperature and high velocity. The capillary discharge device is placed inside the low voltage electrode. As long as the triggering signal is sent to the device, a column of the plasma flow is ejected in axial direction and develops rapidly towards the high voltage electrode. Subsequently, the gap is broken down and a high resistive channel is formed, where the thermal ionization takes place and the arc across the whole gap is generated and develops into a well conductive channel. The process of the thermal ionization of the high resistive channel varies with the change of the spark gap distance. The breakdown delay and the delay jitter of the spark gap increase with the spark gap distance, as both parameters are mainly determined by the developing process of the plasma ejection. The characteristics of the plasma flow determine the possibility of the breakdown of the spark gap under the low working coefficient. The ignition method based on capillary plasma ejection has been proved by the preliminary experiments, which indicate that under the gap length of 8 cm and the working coefficient of less than 3%, the effective ignition is still achievable.     

Messung der Elektronendriftgeschwindigkeit in N2 imE/p-Bereich von 0,05 bis 40 Volt/cm Torr (Funkenkammerverfahren)

A special spark chamber technique was used to measure drift velocities of electrons for N₂ over anE/p-range from 0.05 to 40 volts/cm·Torr. The inaccuracy is smaller than 5% in the mediumE/p-range and increases to 10% at the ends of the region. This method uses a single α-particle traversing a parallel plate gap. The α-particle triggers by a photomultiplier a high voltage pulse which initiates an avalanche discharge. By varying the delay time after which the high voltage pulse is triggered one deduces from the height of the avalanche discharge the time necessary for the electrons to cross the gap and thus the drift velocity.     

Statistical Delay Times in Small Gas Spark Gaps

Statistical times were measured as a function of overvoltage and gap conditioning in small (0.127 mm) flowing-gas spark gaps. Results for air, nitrogen, oxygen, and helium are reported here. Statistical time was determined by averaging 60 measurements of the time between application of a step voltage to the gap and breakdown of the gap. These times, ranging from 100 ns to over 100 ?s, were measured with 10-ns resolution. Conditioning was done by breaking down the spark gap 40 times per second until the desired number of pulses was obtained (5000, 50 000, 500 000). Conditioning increased the breakdown voltage of gaps filled with air, nitrogen, and oxygen, but had little effect when helium was used. The functional dependence of the statistical time on electric-field strength was not changed by conditioning. Limited results showed statistical time increased with pressure in air-filled spark gaps.     

重复率气体火花开关绝缘恢复特性的实验研究

 在自行设计的气体火花开关上，利用双脉冲回路，对纳秒脉冲作用下N₂和H₂的绝缘恢复特性进行了实验研究。结果表明，在静态不吹气情况下，H₂的绝缘恢复时间明显比N₂短。在吹气情况下，适当的气流速度即可使绝缘恢复时间明显缩短。     

重复率气体火花开关绝缘恢复特性

在自行设计的气体火花开关上，利用双脉冲回路，对纳秒脉冲作用下Ｎ２和Ｈ２的绝缘恢复特性进行了实验研究。结果表明，在静态不吹气情况下，Ｈ２的绝缘恢复时间明显比Ｎ２短。在吹气情况下，适当的气流速度即可使绝缘恢复时间明显缩短。     

Vacuum Switch Trigger Delay Characteristics

Measurements have been conducted to determine the turn-on times of a triggered vacuum gap as a function of main gap voltage and trigger and main gap polarities. The triggered vacuum gap consisted of a pair of molybdenum electrodes mounted in a low-inductance (20 nH) stainless-steel chamber. Triggering was accomplished by supplying a 10-kV pulse from a charged 12.5-? cable circuit to a tungsten trigger pin protruding through one electrode. The main gap voltage was supplied by a 4-? charged cable circuit. Minimum wait times (the time from application of the trigger pulse to the beginning of main gap voltage coliapse) of 50 ns were observed when a negative pulse was applied to the trigger located in the cathode. A minimum value of voltage collapse time of 10 ns was observed when a positive pulse was applied to the anode located trigger. The switch could be triggered for all main gap voltages in the range 50 V-75 kV, with minimum delay times occurring at 500 V.     

带触发网络的多重火花间隙触发器的研制

提出了一种基于Tesla变压器且带触发网络的多重火花间隙触发器设计方案。阐述了多重火花间隙在直流和脉冲信号下电压分布特性,并给出了其在脉冲电压作用下电压分布的主要影响因素。仿真分析了触发频率、分压电容和均压电阻对多重火花间隙电压分布的影响,确定了触发网络的最佳参数配置。以10级火花间隙为例,从触发器设计三要素,即脉冲陡度、输出幅值、带载能力出发,确定了Tesla型脉冲触发器的关键设计参数,当脉冲变压器的耦合系数为0.7,初级电感为2500 nH,次级电感为400 mH,初级电容为60F,初级电容充电电压为2.0 kV时,次级直接输出的触发高压可实现10级火花间隙的触发导通。结合多重火花间隙导通实验,对作用于多重火花间隙的触发器的工作过程进行实验验证。     

A high-current rail-type gas switch with preionization by an additional corona discharge

The characteristics of a high-current rail-type gas switch with preionization of the gas (air) in a spark gap by an additional corona discharge are investigated. The experiments were performed in a voltage range of 10–45 kV using a two-electrode switch consisting of two cylindrical electrodes with a diameter of 22 mm and a length of 100 mm and a set of laterally located corona-discharge needles. The requirements for the position and size of the needles are defined for which a corona discharge is ignited before a breakdown of the main gap and does not change to a sparking form, and the entire length of the rail electrodes is efficiently used. The fulfillment of these requirements ensures stable operation of the switch with a small variation of the pulse breakdown voltage, which is not more than 1% for a fixed voltage-pulse rise time in the range from 150 ns to 3.5 μs. A short delay time of the switch breakdown makes it possible to control the two-electrode switch by an overvoltage pulse of nanosecond duration.     

预电离触发管气体开关特性

利用脉冲火花预电离方式,设计了一种脉冲火花预电离触发的触发管气体开关。开关工作电压等级为100 kV,工作介质采用干燥空气,开关主间隙10 mm,电极材料采用304不锈钢,触发结构设计成盘环嵌套结构。实验结果表明:预电离能够显著减小低工作系数下触发管气体开关的触发时延和抖动。对于ns级快脉冲触发,预电离时刻越早,开关击穿时延和抖动越低。在30 kV/8 ns触发脉冲作用下,脉冲预电离触发的触发管开关在80%工作系数时,平均时延约为40 ns,抖动小于1 ns。     

Development of a spark discharge method of flow measurement

The spark method uses the fact that gas molecules which have been excited by the passage of a spark form a high conductance path for another high voltage pulse following the previous discharge after 10 to 100s. A square pulse high voltage spark of duration adjustable down to 01s is available.To ensure that the first spark of a train is as nearly straight as possible, it is triggered by an alpha particle from a safe radioactive source, the alpha-particle track being finely collimated.Stereoscopic photography of the sparks is used for observation, the pair of photographs being taken on a single 125×100 mm² film. A Saab microdensitometer scanner is used for automatic recording of the co-ordinates of selected points on the stereo photograph and a data reduction computer program is used to obtain the three-dimensional positions of the spark paths and hence determine the flow velocities working from a known boundary condition.     

Gas spark switches with increased operating life for Marx generator of lightning test complex

A new design of gas spark switches with an increased operating life and stable dynamic characteristics for the Marx generator of the lightning test complex has been developed. The switches are characterized by the following parameters in the mode of operation: voltage up to 80 kV, discharge current up to 50 kA, flowing charge up to 3.5 C/pulse. An increased operating life is achieved by using torus-shaped electrodes with increased working surface area and a trigger electrode in the form of a thick disk with a hole located between them. Low breakdown delay time and high stability of breakdown voltage under dynamic conditions are provided by gas preionization in the spark gap using UV radiation of an additional corona discharge in the axial region.     

小型场畸变气体开关的击穿抖动特性

基于高功率重复频率脉冲功率源的应用需求,研制了一种三电极场畸变结构气体火花间隙开关,并开展了重复频率条件下的触发特性研究。实验研究了场畸变火花间隙开关的触发特性随重复频率、气体成分、工作压强和工作系数的变化关系,计算了气体开关的触发击穿时延和抖动参数,分析了影响开关触发特性的主要因素。实验结果表明:气体开关触发击穿的抖动随着重复频率增加而增大;填充气体中SF₆和N₂体积比1∶1时,混合气体的综合性能较好;工作系数主要影响开关第二放电火花间隙(间隙2)的击穿抖动。     

触发电压对±100 kV多级多通道开关性能的影响

 研制了一种用于快脉冲直线型脉冲变压器的±100 kV多级多通道火花开关,研究了触发电压极性、幅值对多级多通道火花开关触发性能的影响,分析了不同触发电压下开关各部分延时及抖动。研究结果表明：触发电压的极性对双极性多级多通道火花开关触发性能影响较小;开关的触发放电延时和抖动随着触发电压的增大而减小。进一步分析了多级多通道火花开关的触发击穿模式以及影响开关击穿延时和抖动的主要因素,提出了减小开关触发击穿延时及抖动的技术途径。     

大电流两电极气体开关研究

 由于引燃管难以满足现在能源系统对放电开关承受大电流的要求,因此研制了大电荷转移量两电极气体开关。这种新型气体开关电极间距可调,无触发极,采用同轴结构,并将主电极置于金属腔体内,减少了放电对绝缘支撑的污染。主电极为铜钨合金材料,设计为平顶圆柱状,以提高烧蚀均匀度和热传导效率,减少电极材料喷溅,延长其寿命。绝缘支撑采用碗状结构,提高了机械强度,增加了沿面击穿距离。该开关工作电压达25 kV,放电电流超过100 kA（脉冲宽度600 μs）,单次脉冲电荷转移量达50 C。实验结果显示该气体开关触发性能稳定,电极表面烧蚀均匀,多次大电流实验后电极表面保持完好,可应用于强激光能源系统。     

Laser Interferometric Measurements of a Laser-Preionization-Triggered Spark Column

A KrF laser (248 nm) is used to volume preionization trigger a 40-100-kV, > 10-kA, 100-ns spark gap switch. This method of triggering creates reproducible and axisymmetric spark columns having low temporal and spatial jitter. A short pulse (< 5 ns) tunable dye laser and a Mach-Zehnder interferometer are used to obtain spatial and temporal measurements of the spark column. The spatial resolution of the interferograms is better than 5 ?m. The fringe shifts of the interferograms are used to calculate the electron and heavy particle density distributions within the spark column as a function of time during the spark. Results are presented for sparks in 5-percent SF6/ 20-percent N2/75-percent He and 1-percent Xe/99-percent H2 gas mixtures. Dc and pulsed self-breakdown voltages are also measured in order to provide a reference for the laser-triggered results. Data on laser-triggering reliability and spark breakdown delay time are also presented.     

The lifetime of positive streamers in a pulsed point-to-plane gap in atmospheric air

A determination has been made of the lifetime of positive streamers produced in atmospheric air in a positive point-to-plane gap to which was applied a 40 nsec, 40 kV voltage pulse. The streamer tips have been detected at a given plane in the gap by means of a photomultiplier and high speed oscilloscope. It was found that the streamer tips continued to propagate in the gap, long (up to 35 nsec) after the voltage pulse was removed, in accordance with the predictions of a recently presented model of streamer propagation. Association of this long lifetime with the properties of an isolated tip was made possible by the detection of a new phenomenon at the anode. At the end of the voltage pulse a second luminosity was observed to leave the anode and to extend along the paths of the primary streamers for about one third of their length. This is shown to be the maximum extent of a more highly conducting trunk, behind and separated from the streamer tip, affecting both the propagation of the tip and the eventual transition of a streamer to a breakdown spark.     

Laser Triggering through Fiber Optics of a Low Jitter Spark Gap

An optical filter is employed to transport a 15-ns light pulse from a high power ruby laser for precise triggering of a gas filed high voltage spark gap. The maximum power density that can be transmitted by the fiber is limited to 6 × 1012 W/m2 above which laser induced damage occurs on the fiber entrance face. The overall throughput efficiency of the optical system was measured as 62 percent. Results are presented for the switching delay time and associated jitter for various mixtures of A and N2 gas, and as a function of the voltage across a pulse-charged Blumlein generator gap. Pulse charging of the Blumlein generator was accomplished by a three-stage Marx generator, resulting in output voltages up to 250 kV. It was conclusively demonstrated that an optical fiber will transport a sufficiently intense laser pulse to evince subnanosecond jitter in the triggering of a pressurized gas switch under the conditions studied.