Trigger characteristics of two-electrode graphite spark gap switches in pulsed power conditioning system

Abstract

Summary form only given. Two-electrode Graphite Spark Gap Switch (TGSGS) is used as the main discharge switch in Pulsed Power Conditioning System (PPCS). Normally the TGSGS is controlled by the application of an external trigger impulse. The trigger impulse with peak value of more than 120 kV and rise time of less than 30 ns is provided by a trigger generator based on pulse transformer1. In this paper, the operating situation of the TGSGS and the injection of the trigger generator are investigated and described. When the main capacitor is charged on different DC voltages, the breakdown voltages of the TGSGS under the trigger impulse are measured. The calculation and the experimental results of the breakdown voltage under ns impulse are presented and compared. The results indicate that the over-voltage breakdown of the TGSGS in PPCS is sensitive to the peak value, and rise time of the trigger impulse, and does not require too much energy. At last the time delay and jitter of the TGSGS in PPCS is presented.