Comparative study of pulsed breakdown processes and mechanisms in self-triggered four-electrode pre-ionized switches

This work investigates the pulsed breakdown processes and mechanisms of self-triggered preionized switches with a four-electrode structure in nitrogen through intensified charge coupled device photographs.The diameter of the trigger plane hole mainly determines the switch’s electric field distribution.Two configurations with minimum and maximum trigger plane holes are adopted for comparison.In the switch with a minimum trigger plane hole,the maximum electric field distributes at the surfaces of the main electrodes.Although charged particles in the triggering spark channel cannot drift out,homogeneous discharges can be stimulated from both the cathode and anode surfaces through ultraviolet illumination.Two sub-gaps are likely to break down simultaneously.In the switch with a maximum trigger plane hole,the maximum electric field locates near the trigger electrodes.Discharges in both sub-gaps initiate from the trigger electrodes in the form of a positive or negative streamer.Due to the lower breakdown voltage and electric field threshold for discharge initiation,the cathode side sub-gap breaks down first.The analysis of two extreme examples can be referenced in the future design and improvement of self-triggered four-electrode switches with different trigger electrode structures.

兆伏级串级自触发开关脉冲击穿特性影响机制及优化

大型脉冲功率装置中使用的兆伏级开关常采用串级结构以提高工作电压并保证开关电场的均匀性。在脉冲电压上升速率固定且单级开关击穿概率服从Weibull分布前提下,推导了串级开关击穿概率分布模型,并分析了3级串级开关击穿特性的影响机制。在能保证各单级开关击穿特性一致性较好的条件下,触发3级开关时,后击穿的2级在高过压下击穿,每级开关的平均击穿电压降低,开关整体击穿时延抖动与单级触发开关相当;触发1级开关时,大概率是触发级先击穿、2个自击穿级在高过压下击穿,开关整体抖动远小于自击穿抖动,每级开关的平均击穿电压比触发3级时更高,但由于自击穿级仍有小概率先击穿,开关整体抖动约为触发3级时的2倍。在前沿约300 ns的脉冲电压下实验研究了串级开关的击穿特性,其中单级开关采用自触发持续预电离方式以保证特性的一致性。结果表明,开关工作电压0.8~2.0 MV范围内,触发1级时,时延抖动2.9~7.7 ns、电压分散性0.51%~2.21%,触发3级时,时延抖动2.3~3.6 ns、电压分散性0.59%~0.91%,验证了模型分析所得的规律,且实现了对原有串级开关击穿特性的优化。此外,由于0.3 MPa以上高气压时开关的自击穿状态更稳定,触发1级与触发3级时开关整体抖动基本相当。