Arc Motion and Electrode Erosion in High-Current Rail Spark Gaps

Kharlov, A. V.

doi:10.1109/tps.2010.2052929

Cited by 26 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…A GAP with metal electrodes is always used to transfer high-pulsed current, and is commonly used in pulsed power facilities, such as high-power spark gap switches [1]- [4], electrohydraulic cleaning [5], environmental applications [6], electrical-discharge machining [7], etc. Electrode erosion is one of the key factors that restrict the development of the above applications.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison and Evaluation of Electrode Erosion Under High-Pulsed Current Discharges in Air and Water Mediums

Liu

Luo

et al. 2016

IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci.

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In order to analyze the electrode erosion rate and erosion mechanism under high-pulsed current discharge in water and air, the erosion characteristics of the tungsten-copper (W-Cu) electrode under high-pulsed current were comparatively studied in the experiments. Based on the weight loss measurement, the cathode erosion rate, the anode erosion rate, and the total erosion rate of the electrodes discharged in water and air are obtained. Then the eroded surfaces after 100 shots are analyzed by electron transfer dissociation and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and concentrations of the metal ions after discharge in the water are measured and analyzed. Results show that the erosion of W-Cu electrode in water is more serious than that in air. Macromorphology of the eroded electrodes in water indicates that there are obvious arc spots caused by more focused arc and higher current density, leading to more serious erosion. Micromorphology shows that the electrode erosion in water is mainly caused by the evaporation of the metal, while the jet of the molten metal in air is the major erosion form. Apart from physical erosion caused by metal ablation and evaporation, the complex electrochemistry reaction, which is induced by the high-temperature arc in water, is one of the significant causes resulting in more serious erosion in water.Index Terms-Electrode erosion, erosion rate, morphology analysis, pulse current, transferred charge. 0093-3813

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison and Evaluation of Electrode Erosion Under High-Pulsed Current Discharges in Air and Water Mediums

Liu

Luo

et al. 2016

IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci.

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“…Therefore, opposite jets are generated at the cathode and anode, as shown in figure 12(a). Many researchers have shown that the jet velocity at the cathode can reach the order of 1 km s −1 [28].…”

Section: Transition Of the Arc Spot Modementioning

confidence: 99%

Arc spot formation conditions and influencing factors of a micro multi-electrode technology

Yuan¹,

Liao²,

Zhu³

et al. 2021

J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys.

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Arc heaters are important items of equipment for ground thermal appraisal of space probes returning to Earth. However, cathodes of arc heaters are seriously ablated, which limits the appraisal. Micro multi-electrode technology is characterized by multiple spots, which has the potential to reduce cathode ablation. In order to develop this technology, Cu-LaB 6 alloys were prepared by using a hot press sintering furnace with a LaB 6 content of mol. 0.03%-1% and average particle size of 18-60 µm. The influence of current, discharge distance, LaB 6 content, LaB 6 size and magnetic field on the arc spot mode was studied. The similarity parameter of the arc spot mode was analyzed. The arc spot has three modes: single-spot mode (SSM), multi-spot mode (MSM) and branched-spot mode (BSM). With the increase in the discharge current, the arc spot changes in the order of the BSM, the MSM and the SSM. With the increase in the discharge distance, the arc spot changes in the opposite order. Increasing the content or decreasing the size of LaB 6 can make the MSM region move in the direction of decreasing current and increasing discharge distance. A model for arc spot transition is proposed. The change of the arc spot from the MSM to the BSM is related to the arc constriction.

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“…Motion of a canal channel through the switch electrodes naturally decreases erosion of the electrodes, which, in turn, decreases sputtering of the insulators and their decontamination by erosion products. Decrease of the erosion also leads to constant form of the electrodes and, hence stable breakdown voltage will be guaranteed and, respectively, time delay stability in the switch operation Velocity of a plasma channel is defined by equilibrium in magnetic force and air drag force, acting on a plasma channel [12]. Plasma channel forms bridge between the rails, and is accelerated along the electrodes due to j × B force exerted by the discharge current I(t).…”

Section: Arc Motionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additional inductance 10 (0.54 µH) for fast regime as made as loop from steel bar 20 × 4 mm 2 . Additional inductance (12) for slow regime consists of four inductors, connected in parallel and mounted on the grounded plate of the test bed. These inductors are made with technique developed in [14], winded by copper wire S = 6 × 4 mm 2 on fiberglass tubes (diameter 130 mm, length 1 m, 135 turns on each inductor).…”

Section: Jinst 12 T10009mentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of a two-electrode gas switch with electrodynamical acceleration of spark channel in oscillatory regime of discharge

Kharlov¹,

Kovalchuk²,

Kumpyak³

et al. 2017

J. Inst.

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A: We have developed a compact gas switch intended for operation in oscillatory (low damping) regime of discharge. It is two-electrode switch with electrodynamic acceleration of a spark channel and a matched series injection trigger generator. A series inductance is employed for isolation of a trigger pulse from a surrounded circuit. Two operations regimes have been investigated, namely "fast" regime with current amplitude ~160 kA, total charge ~12 C, period of oscillations 60 µs, full pulse length ~400 µs and "slow" regime with current amplitude ~30 kA, total charge 18 C, period of oscillations 360 µs, full pulse length ~3 ms. The spark gap can be triggered reliably from 16 to 50 kV (at 72 kV self-breakdown voltage). Time delay in firing was less than 35 ns at 1 ns jitter at 30 mm gap and 40 kV charging voltage. The spark gap is designed for 50 kV charging voltage, at a current up to 200 kA, and up to 20 C charge transfer. Arc motion and electrodes erosion in this spark gap have been investigated. The main results are as follows: the arc channel moves on ~18 cm in fast regime and ~25 cm in slow regime. Results of the switch operation in slow and fast regimes with operational voltage of 40 kV and stored energy 32 kJ promise to get high lifetime. In this paper we present design for the spark gap and trigger generator. Test bed schematics and results of the tests are also described.

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Arc Motion and Electrode Erosion in High-Current Rail Spark Gaps

Cited by 26 publications

References 26 publications

Comparison and Evaluation of Electrode Erosion Under High-Pulsed Current Discharges in Air and Water Mediums

Comparison and Evaluation of Electrode Erosion Under High-Pulsed Current Discharges in Air and Water Mediums

Arc spot formation conditions and influencing factors of a micro multi-electrode technology

Investigation of a two-electrode gas switch with electrodynamical acceleration of spark channel in oscillatory regime of discharge

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