Megawatt Average Power Adiabatic Mode Thyratrons.

Abstract

Significant impact on the size and weight of high energy pulse systems having short on-times can be obtained by designing components to operate in the adiabatic mode. In the specific case of the thyratron switch the mass of the cathode anode and grid elements can be used as internal heat sinks. This allows the average current capability and thus the power handling ability to be increased several times over the normal steady state value for short operating times. Several thyratrons designed for short term, high peak and average power switching applications have been studied at average powers approaching one megawatt. In addition, an off-the-shelf HY-5 was operated in the adiabatic mode and it was found that by modifying the cathode structure the device was capable of being operated reliably at 22.5 amperes of average current at a peak voltage of 15 kilovolts. (Author)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1977
Accession Number
ADA039045

Entities

People

  • John E. Creedon
  • Sol Schneider

Organizations

  • United States Army Communications-Electronics Command

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Cathodes
  • Electron Energy
  • Elements
  • Energy
  • Heat Loss
  • Heat Sinks
  • High Energy
  • High Voltage
  • Modulators
  • Oxide Cathodes
  • Power
  • Standards
  • Steady State
  • Switches
  • Switching
  • Thyratrons
  • Voltage

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Plasma Physics.