Study on Triggering Characteristics of High Current Triggered Vacuum Switches

• Published in: IEEE transactions on magnetics Vol. 45; no. 1; pp. 372 - 376
• Main Authors: Dai Ling, Dai Ling, Han Yongxia, Han Yongxia, Lin Fuchang, Lin Fuchang, Li Hua, Li Hua, Wang Lei, Wang Lei, Zeng Han, Zeng Han, He Zhenghao, He Zhenghao
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.01.2009; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Component; Costs; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Delay; Electric potential; Electrodes; Exact sciences and technology; Failure; High current; Jitter; lifetime; Lifetime estimation; Low voltage; Magnetism; Materials science; Other topics in materials science; Physics; Power system analysis computing; Pulse power systems; Studies; Switches; triggered vacuum switches (TVS); triggering characteristics; Vacuum switches; Vacuum systems; Voltage; high current; Lifetime; Component; triggering characteristics; triggered vacuum switches (TVS); Magnetic properties
• ISSN: 0018-9464; 1941-0069
• DOI: 10.1109/TMAG.2008.2008864

High current switch is a key component of a pulsed power source. Triggered vacuum switch (TVS) possesses many advantages including wide range of operating voltage, compact structure, low cost and so on, so it is considered as one of the most compelling switch in pulsed power system. This paper describes two types (A and B) of TVS samples with different main electrodes and triggering electrodes. Based on theoretical analysis and experimental results, the triggering characteristics of TVS samples have been researched. The triggering polarity, triggering energy and operating voltage influence the triggering delay and the jitter of delay. To recover the failure of TVS samples caused by decreased triggering energy, series air gap was tried. In the lifetime test, the resistance between the triggering electrodes dropped gradually, leading to the failure of TVS. Both types of TVS have discharges number of 100 shots with 70 kA peak current. The ablation on the main electrodes of type B TVS was slighter than that of type A.