Breakdown Phenomena in Ultra-Fast Plasma Closing Switches

Abstract

An experimental investigation into the rate of voltage collapse in plasma closing switches has been undertaken. A transmission line test switch, using a radial/conical topology to minimise wave reflections, has been used for this investigation. The results described in this paper were obtained from experiments using hydrogen. The results show that there is a distinct difference in behaviour between low pressure (< ~5 bar) and high pressure (> 5 bar) breakdown. Comparatively high values of dV/dt were obtained at both low and high pressures, whereas a low dV/dt was observed at intermediate values of pressure.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1999
Accession Number
ADA639541

Entities

People

  • A. R. Dick
  • K. R. Prestwich
  • L. F. Rinehart
  • M. T. Buttram
  • R. C. Patel
  • S. J. Macgregor

Organizations

  • University of Strathclyde

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Barometric Pressure
  • Cells
  • Coaxial Cables
  • Collapse
  • Computer Simulations
  • Data Sets
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Elements
  • Gas Cells
  • High Pressure
  • Hydrogen
  • Impedance
  • Pulsed Power
  • Reflection
  • Switches
  • Topology
  • Transmission Lines

Readers

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Structural Dynamics.
  • Systems Analysis and Design