Note: Design and tests of a 13 kA-6.5 kV thyristor switch for a pulsed inductive vacuum ultraviolet source

Area of Science:

• Electrical Engineering
• Pulsed Power Systems
• Semiconductor Devices

Background:

• High-current switching is critical for pulsed power applications like inductive vacuum ultraviolet sources.
• Existing switching technologies may face limitations in handling high dI/dt (rate of change of current) and high energy pulses.
• Thyristor-based switches offer potential for high-power, fast-switching applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design, construct, and test a novel thyristor-based closing switch prototype.
• To detail the design criteria and triggering board architecture for reliable high dI/dt operation.
• To evaluate the performance of the switch in a specific pulsed inductive vacuum ultraviolet source application.

Main Methods:

• The prototype switch was designed with a focus on robust triggering and self-supply mechanisms.
• A high-side biased, self-supplied triggering board utilizing energy from a snubber network was developed.
• The switch was tested in a series resonant circuit operating at 12 kHz, simulating application conditions.

Main Results:

• The thyristor stack assembly demonstrated a holding voltage of 6.5 kV.
• The switch successfully managed maximum current amplitudes of 13 kA.
• Pulse energies exceeding 600 J were reliably switched during testing.

Conclusions:

• The developed thyristor-based closing switch prototype meets the requirements for high-current, high-energy pulsed applications.
• The triggering board architecture ensures a hard firing gate pulse, essential for high dI/dt scenarios.
• The prototype's successful performance validates its suitability for pulsed inductive vacuum ultraviolet sources and similar systems.