Triggered spark gap switches and their erosion characteristics

Abstract

This paper contains the results of experimental study of the process of commutation of a capacitive storage on a resistive load by a triggered spark gap switch with hollow electrodes and air blowing of interelectrode gaps, and the erosion characteristics of the electrodes. Such a switch can be used as a base unit in developing pulse-frequency generators for scientific purposes and for a number of technical applications, e.g., generators for forming a streamer discharge in plasma-chemical reactors. The research was performed for the following range of parameters: long-time average transmitted power, up to 20 kW; switched energy, 1 to 10 J per pulse; pulse power, 30 to 50 MW; voltage rise rate on the load, 2.10 kV/s; pulse repetition rate, up to 4.5 kHz; electric power for creation of an airflow for conditioning of interelectrode gaps and electrodes cooling, 200 to 800 W.