The role of plasma emitter control in triggering and recovering pseudospark switches

Author

Kuzmichev, A.I.

Author_Institution

Kiev Polytech. Inst., Nat. Tech. Univ., Kiev, Ukraine

Volume

1

fYear

1998

fDate

17-21 Aug 1998

Firstpage

394

Abstract

The characteristics of pseudospark switches with plasma ignition are studied. Their breakdown mechanisms on triggering and recovering stages are similar and may be presented as phenomena in the system “hollow cathode plasma electron emitter-cathode hole-anode”. The plasma emitter is formed by the igniting discharge or afterglow plasma. The type of discharge on switching stage (superdense glow discharge or vacuum arc) does not play an evident role in the recovery mechanism. Control by the plasma emitter potential is an effective way to operate on breakdown in switches. A positive plasma potential is needed for fast recovery. Accelerating the deionization in the hollow cathode and increasing the ratio h/d (h and d are the height and diameter of the cathode holes) shorten the recovery period. The pseudospark switches recover their electrical strength during some tens of microseconds

Keywords

cathodes; circuit-breaking arcs; electric strength; glow discharges; plasma devices; sparks; switchgear testing; vacuum arcs; afterglow plasma; breakdown mechanisms; electrical strength; hollow cathode; igniting discharge; plasma emitter; plasma ignition; positive plasma potential; pseudospark switch characteristics; recovering stages; recovery mechanism; superdense glow discharge; triggering stage; vacuum arc; Cathodes; Charge carrier processes; Electric breakdown; Electron emission; Glow discharges; Ignition; Plasma accelerators; Plasma properties; Switches; Vacuum arcs;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Discharges and Electrical Insulation in Vacuum, 1998. Proceedings ISDEIV. XVIIIth International Symposium on

Conference_Location

Eindhoven

ISSN

1093-2941

Print_ISBN

0-7803-3953-3

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/DEIV.1998.740652

Filename

740652