Role of Electrode Geometry on the Operational Characteristics of Multiaperture Pseudospark Switch

Abstract

In the present study comparative analysis for various geometrical parameters has been presented for the operational characteristics in a single gap multiaperture pseudospark switch (PSS). The investigation has been carried out to understand the importance of geometrical parameters on the behavior of the discharge properties of PSS by using 2-D axis-symmetric kinetic simulation tool COMSOL Multiphysics. The primary attention of the study is to show the effect of multiple apertures, baffles, and chicane on the performance of PSS. The analysis has clearly explained the axial, radial, and transient discharge behavior with the penetrating potential in the PSS. It is found that the single gap geometry of PSS with multiaperture, baffle, and chicane has fast switching, higher hold off and higher current carrying capability with long life due to less erosion. In this respect, the analysis has also explained the discharge properties in a single-gap multiaperture PSS with baffles, such as potential penetration inside the PSS for hydrogen gas at different pressures and applied voltages. Along with this, the <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${V}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> – <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${I}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> characteristics of the same type PSS geometry with baffles and chicane have also been determined by experiment. The obtained results are very much useful for understanding and optimization of the geometrical and operational characteristics of a multiaperture PSS suitable for pulse power applications.