Design and testing of high power, repetitively pulsed solid-state closing switches

Conference · Tue Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1997

OSTI ID:532565

Boenig, H J ^[1]; Schwartzenberg, J W; Willinger, L J; Piccone, D E ^[2]; Lopez, D A; Smolleck, H A ^[3]

---

1. Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
2. Silicon Power Corp., Malvern, PA (United States)
3. New Mexico State Univ., Las Cruces, NM (United States). Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Repetitively pulsed closing switches are often required in high-power physics experiments. Traditionally, ignitrons have been used for these applications. There are reasons why ignitrons have undesirable features, such as the high trigger current which causes electromagnetic interference, the arc instability and environmental concern with the mercury used in the switches. With the development of ever increasing power rating of solid-state switches, in particular thyristors, the designer has the tools to replace ignitrons with solid-state devices. Using as an example a recently designed and tested 10 kV, 80 kA high-power switch, the design philosophy for repetitively pulsed switches is developed. The parameters which impose the greatest challenge on the device, such as di/dt, temperature rise and reverse blocking voltage are investigated with respect to their capability when operating in the pulsed mode. Starting with the available device data sheet information and published results of the dependency of the number of life cycles as a function of the device temperature, it is shown how the overload capability of a device for short term pulsed applications can be exploited. The detailed design of a 2 Hz, 10{sup 8} cycle, 12.5 kV, 80 kA, 3 ms switch, with a short circuit capability of 250 kA, is presented. The paper concludes with a short summary about device limits in voltage, current amplitude and pulse length ratings for repetitively pulsed switches using available thyristors.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Research, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 532565
• Report Number(s): LA-UR--97-547; CONF-971033--1; ON: DE97004704
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

25 ENERGY STORAGE
CAPACITIVE ENERGY STORAGE EQUIPMENT
DESIGN
POWER SUPPLIES
SWITCHES
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
THYRISTORS