Note: Novel trigger pulse feed method for mega-volt gas switch

Area of Science:

• Electrical Engineering
• High-Voltage Technology
• Pulsed Power Systems

Background:

• Feeding trigger pulses into mega-volt switches presents significant challenges.
• Existing methods may struggle with impedance matching and signal integrity.
• Complex breakdown and insulation issues affect switch performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel method for introducing trigger pulses into electrically triggered mega-volt switches.
• To investigate the effectiveness of a damping resistor and inductor in the trigger pulse feed system.
• To analyze the breakdown processes and insulation characteristics of the switch under the new triggering method.

Main Methods:

• A damping resistor was integrated between the inner and outer electrodes of a pulse transmission line.
• An additional inductor was incorporated into the trigger circuit.
• Experimental studies were conducted to analyze switch breakdown and insulation.
• The performance of the switch was evaluated with specific damping component values.

Main Results:

• The novel trigger pulse feed method successfully introduced pulses into the mega-volt switch.
• The damping resistor and inductor effectively managed pulse damping through resistive voltage division.
• The switch demonstrated successful operation at voltages exceeding 2.3 MV with optimized component values (500 Ω, 2 μH).

Conclusions:

• The developed damping resistor and inductor configuration is an effective solution for trigger pulse feeding in mega-volt switches.
• This method addresses challenges related to impedance matching and signal integrity in high-voltage pulse transmission.
• The findings contribute to the advancement of reliable and efficient high-voltage switching technologies.