Low-pressure spark gap triggered by an ion diode

Patent · Tue Aug 31 00:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:6231405

Prono, D S

Spark gap apparatus for use as an electric switch operating at high voltage, high current and high repetition rate. Mounted inside a housing are an anode, cathode and ion plate. An ionizable fluid is pumped through the chamber of the housing. A pulse of current to the ion plate causes ions to be emitted by the ion plate, which ions move into and ionize the fluid. Electric current supplied to the anode discharges through the ionized fluid and flows to the cathode. Current stops flowing when the current source has been drained. The ionized fluid recombines into its initial dielectric ionizable state. The switch is now open and ready for another cycle.

• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: ERA-08-036943; EDB-83-113448
• Application Number: ON: DE83013147
• OSTI ID: 6231405
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
SPARK GAPS
DESIGN
TRIGGER CIRCUITS
SWITCHES
CROSS SECTIONS
DIELECTRIC MATERIALS
IONIZATION
IONIZED GASES
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
EQUIPMENT
FLUIDS
GASES
MATERIALS
PULSE CIRCUITS
420800* - Engineering- Electronic Circuits & Devices- (-1989)