Generation of Crowbar Current using the Polarity Effect of the Triggered Vacuum Gaps

Abstract

The triggered vacuum gap (TVG) is a closing switch for generating large current pulse and can work in the wide range of voltage for several kV to tens kV. Main electrodes are made of Ag-WC. One of main electrode has a hole for trigger electrode (Mo). The switching time is short, if the polarity of the holed-electrode is negative. It is called polarity effect. We devised a crowbar circuit using the polarity effect of the TVGs. The crowbar current of this circuit was investigated experimentally by varying applied voltage, inductance, capacitance, gap length of TVGs, and trigger current duration. A crowbar current, crest of which is 2.4 kA and 4.9/270µs for example, was observed. The probability of generating the crowbar current was more than about 90 %, in the following condition: the trigger current duration of 6.65 µs and the gap length of 2-6 mm.