Final results from the high-current, high-action closing switch test program at Sandia National Laboratories

Abstract

We tested a variety of high-current closing switches for lifetime and reliability on a dedicated 2-MJ, 500-kA capacitor bank facility at Sandia National Laboratories. Interest was in a switch capable of one shot every few minutes, switching a critically damped, de-charged 6.2-mF bank at 24 kV, with a peak current of over 500 kA. The desired lifetime is 24000 shots. Typical of high-energy systems, particularly multimodule systems, the primary parameters of interest related to the switch are 1) reliability, meaning absence of both pre-fires and no-fires; 2) total switch lifetime or number of shots between maintenance; 3) cost. Cost was given lower priority at the evaluation stage because there are uncertainties in estimating higher-quantity prices of these devices, most of which have been supplied before in only small quantities. Cost has more importance in choosing between viable candidates after testing The categories of switches tested are vacuum discharge, high-pressure discharge, and solid-state. Each group varies in terms of triggering ease, ease-of-maintenance, and tolerance to faults such as excess current and current reversal. We tested at least two variations of each technology group. The total number of shots on the switch test facility is about 50000. This paper will present the results from the switch testing. The observed lifetime of different switches varied greatly: the shortest life was one shot; one device was still operating after 6000 shots. On several switches, we measured the voltage drop during conduction and calculated energy dissipated in the switch; we will show these data also.