Electrode Erosion of a High Energy Impulse Spark Gap Switch

Based on the principle of thermal conduction, three metal alloys （stainless steel, copper-tungsten and graphite） were chosen as the material of the high impulse current discharging switch. Experimental results indicate that the mass loss and surface erosion morphology of the electrode are related with the electrode material （conductivity σ, melting point Tin, density p and thermal capacity c） and the impulse transferred charge （or energy） per impulse for the same total impulse transferred charge. The experimental results indicate that the mass loss of stainless steel, copper-tungsten and graphite are 380.10 μg/C, 118.10 μg/C and 81.90 μg/C respectively under the condition of a total impulse transferred charge of 525 C and a transferred charge per impulse of 10.5 C. Under the same impulse transferred charge, the mass loss of copper-tungsten（118.10 μg/C） with the transferred charge per impulse at 10.5 C is far larger than the mass loss （38.61μg/C） at a 1.48 C transferred charge per impulse. The electrode erosion mechanism under high energy impulse arcs is analyzed briefly and it is suggested that by selecting high conductive metal or metal alloy as the electrode material of a high energy impulse spark gap switch and setting high erosion resistance material at the top of the electrode, the mass loss of the electrode can be reduced and the life of the switch prolonged.

Deactivating Metal Particle by Optimizing Insulation Configuration in Spark Gap Switch

As a new method to protect the spark gap from metal particle contamination, the effect of the metal inserted insulator on the controlling behavior of metal particles was investigated in a quasi-uniform electric field. Considering that the inserted metal electrodes can decrease the electric field around the insulator and divert the electrostatic force away from the insulator, the method can be used to prevent the particles from moving toward the insulator so as to reduce the possibility of a breakdown. The inserted metal electrodes can reverse the direction of the particles＇ horizontal motion. A study on the insulator shape indicates that the inserted metal electrodes can repulse the particle and improve the particle lifting voltage significantly near the vertical surface of the insulator or ribbed insulator. For the insulator with a tilting surface the inserted metal electrodes have little influence on the particle motion. In addition, the size of the inserted electrodes shows a significant effect on the control of particle motion.

Reliable Field Distortion Spark Gap for Plasma Focus

A simple, low cost, easily maintained, and reliable field distortion spark gap has been developed to operate at a voltage up to 30 kV. The header construction necessary to attach the spark gap switch to a single 12.5 μF, 40 kV （10 k J） capacitor is described. The main features of the spark gap are its wide range of voltage operation, high current capacity, low inductance and long lifetime. The performance of spark gap has been tested in a plasma focus and results are presented in this report.

Effects of background pressure on the arc characteristics of gas spark gap

Gas spark gap is widely used in any pulsed power system as the key element which directly determines its repetitive performance and output characteristics. Among many factors of threeelectrode gas spark gap, background pressure is of much importance in determining the gap performance parameters such as the delay and jitter, and relevant studies have been rarely performed. A magneto-hydrodynamic model of the arc in gas spark gap is built and the effects of background pressure on the arc characteristics are discussed in this paper. It is demonstrated that a higher background pressure may result in radial compression of the arc column, a higher arc voltage, and a lower declination rate of arc resistance in the first quarter cycle. Relevant simulation data would be helpful for the optimization of the design of gas spark gap.

Determination of the Trigger-Electrode Position for the Field-Distortion Spark Gap

The optimal axial position of the trigger-electrode of the field-distortion spark gap is investigated through electric field calculation. The electric fields of the gap are calculated when locating trigger-electrode at different positions. It is shown that if the distance d between the trigger electrode and the low electric potential electrode is greater than 1.3 mm, the maximum field intensity occurs at the edge of the trigger-electrode, which will facilitate the generation of multi-channel discharge. According to calculated results, the working characteristics of the gap is investigated and it shows that when d=1.4 mm the field distortion gap can be triggered reliably.

低抖动大气压空气电晕均压多间隙气体火花开关

为了发展结构简单、便于维护的大功率气体火花开关,研制了大气压空气电晕均压多间隙气体火花开关,该开关采用电晕放电均压方式,由9个相同的间隙构成。利用有限元分析方法对9间隙电晕均压气体火花开关的电场进行了分析,发现适合长度的电晕针对开关主间隙的电场影响很小,且加载触发脉冲时可在中间间隙形成了强烈的畸变电场。在理论分析的基础上,开展了开关击穿特性研究,实验结果表明电晕均压有利于提升开关的稳定性,开关自击穿电压分散性降低,自击穿电压略微增大;同时多间隙开关实现了良好的触发导通,在工作电压60~85 kV(工作欠压比56.8%~80%)范围内,开关的击穿延时抖动均小于20 ns,当工作电压达到80 kV以上时,抖动可小于10 ns。文中设计的大气压空气电晕均压多间隙气体火花开关可用于直线脉冲变压器等脉冲功率系统,使用的基于电场模拟对电极结构进行优化的方法对设计其他类型的开关具有借鉴意义。

Analysis on discharge process of a plasma-jet triggered gas spark switch

The plasma-jet triggered gas switch （PJTGS） could operate at a low working coefficient with a low jitter. We observed and analyzed the discharge process of the PJTGS at the lowest working coefficient of 47% with the trigger voltage of 40 kV and the pulse energy of 2 J to evaluate the effect of the plasma jet. The temporal and spatial evolution and the optical emission speclrum of the plasma jet were captured. And the spraying delay time and outlet velocity under different gas pressures were investigated. In addition, the particle in cell with Monte Carlo collision was employed to obtain the particle distribution of the plasma jet varying with time. The results show that, the plasma jet generated by spark discharge is sprayed into a spark gap within tens of nanoseconds, and its outlet velocity could reach 104 m s-1. The plasma jet plays a non-penetrating inducing role in the triggered discharge process of the PJTGS. On the one hand, the plasma jet provides the initial electrons needed by the discharge; on the other hand, a large number of electrons focusing on the head of the plasma jet distort the electric field between the head of the plasma jet and the opposite electrode. Therefore, a fast discharge originated from the plasma jet is induced and quickly bridges two electrodes.

A Multi-Gap Multi-Channel Gas Switch for the Linear Transformer Driver

A multi-gap and multi-channel gas switch with convexo-convex discal planet electrodes was designed and investigated. Eight gaps are formed in series by a trigger electrode, six intermediate electrodes and two high voltage electrodes with a uniform gap length of 5 ram. The self breakdown and triggered breakdown performance of the switch are reported. Both the delay time and jitter decrease with the increase in the trigger voltage, switching coefficient and the decrease in the trigger isolating resistor. The delay time of the switch is about 40 ns, and the jitter is less than 2 ns when charged with 4-85 kV and triggered by a voltage pule of -75 kV. The inductance of the switch is about 30 nH.

PCB平面三电极空气火花隙开关导通特性试验研究

针对平面三电极空气火花隙开关的稳定性、响应时间等动态性能问题,设计了阴极与阳极间隙为1.6,1.8,2.0,2.2,2.4 mm的5种PCB平面三电极空气火花隙开关,分别对开关的最小击穿电压、导通性能的变化规律和放电寿命进行了试验研究。试验结果表明:PCB平面三电极空气火花隙开关的最小击穿电压随着导通次数、阴极与阳极间隙的增加而增大;在高压电容器充电电压、触发端的脉冲电压一致的条件下,相同参数开关的响应时间随着导通次数的增加而增大;在其他条件不变的情况下,开关阴极与阳极间隙越大,开关的放电寿命越长。

100kA微秒级气体火花开关电极材料熔蚀研究

电极材料是影响气体火花开关性能和寿命的关键因素之一。基于热传导方程分析了电弧作用下电极表层的温度场分布,得出了电极材料以及电弧属性参数对温度场分布的影响,并对黄铜、不锈钢、钨铜合金和高密度石墨4种电极材料进行了电极熔蚀实验,其质量亏损率分别为:黄铜6.39mg/C,不锈钢6.38mg/C,WCu合金4.19mg/C,高密度石墨1.19mg/C,与理论计算基本一致。

500kV串补站过电压保护研究

结合华北托克托电厂 5 0 0 k V串补工程研究了串补站的过电压保护措施 ,包括过电压保护方案的选择、金属氧化物限压器 (MOV)的能量需求分析和阻尼回路设计 ,并提出了主要设备参数。

500kV串补系统中火花间隙系统研究

介绍了500 kV串补系统中广泛应用的火花间隙系统结构及导通原理。针对GTD强电磁干扰的工作条件重新设计其相关电路,阐述了其工作原理及特点;介绍了密封间隙的结构及导通原理,通过对密封间隙和整个火花间隙进行触发试验,结果表明,新设计的GTD装置能够可靠地将密封间隙强制击穿导通,进而使整个火花间隙系统导通。实际人工接地短路试验结果表明整个火花间隙能够可靠地强制导通。

1000kV特高压固定串联补偿装置关键元件工作条件研究

基于长治—南阳—荆门特高压交流试验示范工程扩建工程,利用电磁暂态程序(EMTP),研究了区外和区内故障时,1 000 kV特高压串补关键元件工作条件。研究首次提出:采用金属氧化物限压器(metal oxide varistor,MOV)-并联间隙组合作为特高压串补的过电压保护措施;区外故障时仅由MOV限制电容器的过电压,间隙不动作;区内故障时,火花间隙及旁路开关可以动作,从而将电容器和MOV旁路;特高压串补过电压保护水平为2.3 pu;长南I线和南荆I线串补MOV的最大能耗水平分别为57 MJ/相和45 MJ/相;采用"电抗器+MOV串电阻"型阻尼回路作为串补电容器的放电阻尼装置,电容器放电回路的自振频率约为300 Hz;短路期间,特高压串补火花间隙和旁路开关最大放电电流为153 kA。

石墨电极烧蚀机理及实验

对于高性能的单次脉冲而言,石墨比传统金属材料更适合于在高能量转移情况下的脉冲放电工作环境。本文以热力学理论的热传导模型为出发点,结合实验中对烧蚀量的测量验证,探求石墨在高能脉冲放电情况下烧蚀的理论解释。依据热力学原理,建立了电极烧蚀过程的简化数学模型。由于石墨电极具有特殊的热力学性质,因此在微秒级或是放电持续时间更长的放电中,电极表面的温升过程时间较放电时间而言可以忽略不计。此时可近似认为开关电荷转移量与电极烧蚀量呈线性关系。该结论可以从实测数据中得到验证。

气体火花开关电极烧蚀研究

采用Mo,WCu和W分别作为三种气体火花开关的主电极材料,进行放电条件下电极烧蚀实验,研究开关电极烧蚀率和烧蚀形貌,分析电极烧蚀特征。结果表明,Mo,WCu和W开关的主电极烧蚀率分别为3.32×10-2 C-1·m-2,2.63×10-2 C-1·m-2和1.74×10-2 C-1·m-2,W开关主电极烧蚀率最小。实验后开关的主电极中心烧蚀严重,呈现明显裂纹和烧蚀坑。Mo主电极表面呈现明显熔融态,阴极表面形成大量裂纹(宽度达10μm)和孔隙(孔径达10μm);WCu和W主电极表面形成少量圆球状W突起(粒径达20μm及以上)。开关外壳内壁沉积了喷溅颗粒。WCu开关外壳沉积颗粒较大(粒径达10μm),Mo开关外壳沉积颗粒居中(粒径为2μm),W开关外壳沉积颗粒最小(近1μm)。因此可优先选用具有优异抗烧蚀性能的W作为气体火花开关电极材料。

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。

一种大电流三电极气体火花开关的工作特性

根据强流电子加速器的需要,研制了一种大电流三电极气体火花开关。开关采用防污染设计,将开关电极与金属腔体一体化,并采用金属挡板对绝缘封盖进行防污保护,从最大程度上减小了开关工作时对绝缘支撑物的污染,提高了开关寿命,并且对开关工作特性进行了实验研究。研究结果表明:当开关工作气压为0.10、0.15、0.20和0.25MPa时,其可控工作电压范围分别为25%～94%、38%～86%、40%～88%和44%～88%,具有可控工作电压范围宽的优点;当开关工作气压为0.25MPa、工作电压为40kV、欠压比为88%时,开关时延为50ns,抖动为1.28ns且分散性<3%,该开关已成功用于强流电子加速器系统且运行稳定可靠。

陡化前沿Marx发生器的设计与初步实验

设计了10级同轴结构的陡化前沿Marx发生器，实现了电容储能型脉冲功率调制系统的小型化。该系统采用3nF低电感电容器作为储能电容，采用固体电阻作为充电电阻，通过各级短间隙气体火花开关迅速放电及级间紫外光耦合在50Ω负载上建立了陡化前沿的输出电压波形。在考虑开关电极分散电容、等效传输线效应及回路电感等因素基础上，利用自击穿火花开关模型建立了等效放电电路模型，并利用PSpice电路模拟软件进行了数值模拟。根据数值模拟结果设计加工了10级陡化前沿的Marx发生器实验装置。在较低充电电压下（7kV与11kV），得到了初步实验结果，输出电压波形大致为方波，相对于传统Marx发生器输出前沿缓慢的三角波有较大改善，半高宽为40～50HS，前沿时间为十几ns，幅值约为41kV和57．5kV，实验结果与模拟结果基本一致。

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600μs),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。

100kA微秒级气体火花开关电极喷射现象研究

主要研究了在100kA微秒级电流脉冲作用下气体火花开关电极物质喷射现象的成因及规律。共进行了4种电极材料的喷射特性实验,实验结果表明,在开关放电过程中,电极表面物质喷射速度方向与材料无关,基本与放电点表面垂直,存在明显的发散角(约为12°)。喷射产物的质量分布近似呈cosnφ分布(n约为1400)。