Recent advances in high-power ignitron development

Journal Article · Mon Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/16.75196· OSTI ID:5776356

Loree, D L; Giesselmann, M G; Kristiansen, M ^[1]; Shulski, A P ^[2]; Kihara, R ^[3]

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1. Texas Tech Univ., Lubbock, TX (US)
2. Richardson Electronics, LaFox, IL (US)
3. Lawrence Livermore National Lab., Livermore, CA (US)

The development of high-power ignitrons with peak current ratings of up to 1000 kA and simultaneous charge transfer rates of 250-500 C is currently under way in a joint effort between Texas Tech University (TTU), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), and industry. Two industrial manufacturers, Richardson Electronics, US, and English Electric Valve, UK, have participated with TTU and LLNL in three workshops to advance the state of the art in high-power ignitrons. Less than three years after the start of the program, the cooperative efforts have led to the development of a new commercial tube (Richardson Electronics NL-9000). High power testing of prototypes of this tube and other unique ignitrons was done by Kihara at LLNL. Research at TTU is concentrated on plasma diagnostics, novel anode designs, electrode placements, and trigger schemes. Electrical measurements as well as optical and microwave plasma studies, such as high-speed framing photography, Mach- Zehnder and microwave interferometry, and spectroscopy have been performed. This paper describes the advances made in high-power ignitron switching capabilities in a comparison study between conventional Size D and Size E tubes, demountable experimental tubes and the new NL-9000 (Richardson Electronics). The paper shows the differences in tube design, and the associated peak current and charge transfer capabilities and lifetime expectancies. The critical design criteria are the anode shape and placement in order to control the plasma and prevent prefires. Tube failure modes and recent studies on alternate ignitor schemes are presented. In addition, results of plasma diagnostics performed on a demountable ignitron with optical access to the discharge plasma are shown.

• OSTI ID: 5776356
• Journal Information: IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (United States), Journal Name: IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (United States) Vol. 38:4; ISSN IETDA; ISSN 0018-9383
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION
240100* -- Power Systems-- (1990-)
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700320 -- Plasma Diagnostic Techniques & Instrumentation-- (1992-)
700350 -- Plasma Production
Heating
Current Drive
& Interactions-- (1992-)
ANODES
DESIGN
ELECTRODES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON TUBES
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
FAILURE MODE ANALYSIS
GAS DISCHARGE TUBES
IGNITRONS
IMAGE PROCESSING
INTERFEROMETERS
INTERFEROMETRY
LAWRENCE LIVERMORE LABORATORY
MACH-ZEHNDER INTERFEROMETER
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MICROWAVE RADIATION
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
PROCESSING
PULSE CIRCUITS
RADIATIONS
RECTIFIER TUBES
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SHAPE
SIZE
SYSTEM FAILURE ANALYSIS
SYSTEMS ANALYSIS
TRIGGER CIRCUITS
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS