A high-energy spark gap switch and trigger system

High-energy switch and trigger systems are required for a range of capacitor bank applications such as for electromagnetic rail, coil, and electro-thermal guns. This paper summarizes recent developments in this kind of switch design in our laboratory. The switch is a two-electrode switch and is triggered by an overvolting “series-injection” of a high-voltage pulse,elimination of the trigger electrode, combined with an integral, coaxial current-return housing. The trigger generator TG160 is a MARX generator which applied an overvolting pulse directly to one of the spark gap electrodes, open circuit output voltage of TG-160 is 120kV, with a 30ns rise time, and the pulse width of 160ns (FWHM). Some electrode materials and the erosion and degradation of the insulator pressure Nylon envelope in high current arc environments were tested in switch life testing.