Hot-Cathode Mercury-Vapor Rectifier Tubes

High-voltage d-c power for radio transmitters has usually been obtained from d-c generators or through rectification of alternating current by means of high-vacuum tube rectifiers or mercury-arc rectifiers. A new type of rectifier tube is described which combines the advantages of the high-vacuum tube with the low and nearly constant arc-drop of the mercury-arc rectifier. Typical tube characteristics and the method of operation are discussed. A method is given for rating rectifier tubes in terms of the fundamental limits of the tube, that is, peak inverse voltage and peak plate current. Single-phase and three-phase circuits are shown for use with the hot-cathode mercury-vapor tube.