A High-Repetition-Rate Bounded-Wave EMP Simulator Based on Hydrogen Thyratron and Transmission Line Transformer

• Published in: IEEE transactions on plasma science Vol. 40; no. 12; pp. 3499 - 3507
• Main Authors: Feng, Deren, Xu, Xiaojuan, Luo, Jin, Lee, Xiaolong, Yao, Zhaohu, Yu, Chengda
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York IEEE 01.12.2012; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Bounded-wave simulator; Dielectrics; Electric currents; Electric power lines; Hydrogen; hydrogen thyratron; impedance match; Impedance matching; Pulse transformers; repetition rate; Simulators; Switches; Thyratrons; Transformers; transmission line transformers (TLTs)
• DOI: 10.1109/TPS.2012.2222030
• ISSN: 0093-3813

Transmission line transformers (TLTs) are usually used for impedance match and pulse transformers, which have received gradual attention due to their excellent frequency response characteristics over conventional wire-wound transformers. This transformer basically consists of equal lengths of transmission line normally used by coaxial cables connected in parallel at the input side of the transformer and in series at the output side so that the output voltage can be boosted in proportion. For high-voltage and high-current pulsed system, a gas spark switch is usually used because of its large state current and high hold-off voltage. However, it is hard to get high repetition rate with gas spark switch, because of recombination of the ionized gas. Owing to the high working voltage, high pulse current, quick and steady fire lighting, low trigger voltage, reliable triggering, long life, light weight, small size, and ease of use, hydrogen thyratron, which selected hydrogen or deuterium as arc discharge dielectric, is widely used in the fields of scientific research, military, medical treatment, industry, etc. In this paper, we propose a high-power pulsed system based on TLT and hydrogen thyratron. The system is likely to work at higher voltage as well as higher repetition rate than what are for a conventional system made of wire-wound transfer and gas spark switch.