CA1095634A - High voltage electric switch - Google Patents
High voltage electric switchInfo
- Publication number
- CA1095634A CA1095634A CA253,790A CA253790A CA1095634A CA 1095634 A CA1095634 A CA 1095634A CA 253790 A CA253790 A CA 253790A CA 1095634 A CA1095634 A CA 1095634A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- electrodes
- trigger
- high voltage
- gas
- breakdown
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Abstract
ABSTRACT This invention provides a compact high voltage self triggered electric switch having a fast switching time. The switch comprises two spaced-apart main electrodes defining a breakdown gap, two trigger electrodes each of which is directly electrically connected to different ones of the main elec-trodes, the geometry of the trigger and the main electrodes being such that the breakdown voltage between the trigger electrodes is less than the breakdown voltage between the main electrodes, with the trigger electrodes being adapted to generate electrically electro-magnetic radiation which irradiates a substantial portion of an insulating gas in the breakdown gap, the radiation being of a sufficiently high intensity to cause substantial photo electric emission of electrons in the gas and thus breakdown of the gas and an electrical discharge between the main electrodes. The trigger discharge preferably occurs across a surface of a radiation enhancing member.
Description
l~g5~34
-2-FIELD OF THE INVENTION.
THIS INVENTION relates to a high voltage electrical switch.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION.
.
According to the invention there is provided a high voltage electric switch which includes:
a housing defining a chamber and adapted to contain an electrically insulating gas;
two spaced-apart main electrodes housed within the chamber, and defining between them a breakdown gap;
connecting means for connecting the electrodes in an electrical circuit, and trigger means in close proximity to the gap, and com-prising two trigger electrodes, each being directly electri-cally connected to different ones of the main electrodes, the geometry of the electrodes being such that the breakdown voltage between the trigger electrodes is less than the breakdown voltage between the main electrodes, the trigger means being adapted to generate electrically electro-magnetic radiation which irradiates a substantial portion of the insulating gas in the breakdown gap, the radiation being of a sufficiently high intensity to cause substantial photo-electric emission of electrons in the gas.and B : ~
.
, ..
'' ' ' ' ' '' ' ' ', . .
' ' ' ,.' ,' ' ' ' '.
, ~ ' ',' ~
:1~)9S634 thus breakdown of the gas and an electrical discharge between the main electrodes.
The electro-magnetic radiation may be of sufficient intensity to generate an electron density of greater than 108 electrons/cm3 in the breakdown gap between the main electrodes.
By 'photo-electric emission' is meant the excitation of an atom by electro-magnetic stimulation to emit an electron.
The electrons may accordingly be emitted from atoms of gas or from atoms of the housing material or other solid material within the housing.
The electro-magnetic radiation may have sufficient quantum energy to cause photo-electric emission. Accordingly, the radiation may be in the ultra-violet region of the visible spectrum or have a higher frequency than that of ultra-violet light, i.e. greater than 1015Hz.
The trigger means may be adapted to generate the electro-magnetic radiation by means of a fast, low energy electrical trigger discharge. The switch may further include a radiation enhancing member disposed such that the trigger discharge occurs across a surface of the radiation enhancing member, the radiation enhancing member being of a suitable material such as a ceramic material, to increase the intensity of the radiation generated by the trigger discharge.
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The main electrodes may have a uniform surface geometry such that a uniform, static electric field is developed between them. Further, in order to provide for a sufficient current carrying capacity, the main electrodes may have an extended discharge surface.
In order to increase the breakdown voltage of the gap, the insulating gas may have a high dielectric co-efficient, and the gas may be pressurized. Additives may also be added to the gas to assist in the photo-electric emission of electrons.
In order to minimise the switch-on time of the switch, the main electrodes may be located as close as possible to one another (according to the hold-off voltage required of the switch), to provide a very small breakdown gap. The housing may further have at least an inlet opening wherethrough the gas may be introduced into the chamber. An outlet opening may also be provided so that gas may be passed through the chamber.
The electrodes may be of any suitable electrically conducting material, such as copper, aluminium, stainless steel, carbon or the like, and the insulating gas may be any suitable yas such as nitrogen, sulphur hexafluoride, or the like, which has a high dielectric constant and is electrically insulatin~.
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1~35~34 A switch according to the invention may be used in any suitable high voltage application. ~s nano-second switching times may be obtained with the switch, it may conveniently be used to excite lasers.
BRIEF DESCRIPT ON OF THE DRAWINGS.
The invention will now be described by way of an example with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a sectional view of the electrode arrangement for a high-voltage self-triggered switch according to the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF ILLU~TRATIVE EMBODIMENT.
. . .
Referring to the drawing, the electrode arrangement for a self-triggered high-voltage switch is shown genrally by reference numeral 50. The arrangement 50 comprises two spaced-apart main electrodes 54.1 and 54.2 defining a main discharge gap 56 and two spaced-apart trigger electrodes 58.1 and 58.2 defining a trigger discharge gap 60. The trigger electrode 58.1 and the main electrode 54.1 are formed from one piece of a suitable metal, such as stainless steel, as with the trigger electrode 58.2 and the main electrode 54.2. The main elec-trodes 54.1 and 54.2 are closer together than the trigger electrodes 58.1 and 58.2, the main discharge gap 56 being smaller than the trigger discharge gap 60. However, as the main electrodes 54.1 and 5~.2 are rounded and the trigger electrodes 58.1 and 58.2 are pointed, a highly-stressed electric field is developed by the trigger electrodes 58.1 and 58.2, resulting in the trigger electrodes 58.1 and 58.2 having a lower breakdown voltage than the main electrodes 54.1 and 54.2.
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. . .
1~9563~
~ ceramic insulator 62 is provided adjacent the trigger electrodes 58.1 and 58.2 to provide a surface 64 across which the trigger discharge occurs. The electrodes are housed in a housing having openings through which a suitable insu-lating gas may be introduced and removed. For the sake of clarity, details of the housing are not shown.
In operation, a high voltage pulse is applied across the electrodes. ~s the trigger electrodes 58.1 and 58.2 have a lower breakdown voltage, a trigger discharge first occurs across the ceramic surface 64. This generates ultra-violet light of high intensity which irradiates the insulating gas in the main discharge gap 56. This results in photo-electric emission of electrons in the main discharge gap 56 having a suitable initial electron density. When a sufficient electron density is generated a very fast distributed discharge occurs between the main electrodes 54.1 and 54.2. ~s the dynamic resistance between the two main electrodes 54.1 and S4.2 is much less than that between the trigger electrodes 58.1 and 58.2, the discharge between the trigger electrodes 58.1 and 58.2 decreases substantially in magnitude, resulting in minimal erosion of the trigger electrodes 58.1 and 58.2.
Further, as a substantial portion of the current flowing in the trigger discharge is transferred to the main discharge, very fast switching occurs.
,, , ~
', '' " ' :
THIS INVENTION relates to a high voltage electrical switch.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION.
.
According to the invention there is provided a high voltage electric switch which includes:
a housing defining a chamber and adapted to contain an electrically insulating gas;
two spaced-apart main electrodes housed within the chamber, and defining between them a breakdown gap;
connecting means for connecting the electrodes in an electrical circuit, and trigger means in close proximity to the gap, and com-prising two trigger electrodes, each being directly electri-cally connected to different ones of the main electrodes, the geometry of the electrodes being such that the breakdown voltage between the trigger electrodes is less than the breakdown voltage between the main electrodes, the trigger means being adapted to generate electrically electro-magnetic radiation which irradiates a substantial portion of the insulating gas in the breakdown gap, the radiation being of a sufficiently high intensity to cause substantial photo-electric emission of electrons in the gas.and B : ~
.
, ..
'' ' ' ' ' '' ' ' ', . .
' ' ' ,.' ,' ' ' ' '.
, ~ ' ',' ~
:1~)9S634 thus breakdown of the gas and an electrical discharge between the main electrodes.
The electro-magnetic radiation may be of sufficient intensity to generate an electron density of greater than 108 electrons/cm3 in the breakdown gap between the main electrodes.
By 'photo-electric emission' is meant the excitation of an atom by electro-magnetic stimulation to emit an electron.
The electrons may accordingly be emitted from atoms of gas or from atoms of the housing material or other solid material within the housing.
The electro-magnetic radiation may have sufficient quantum energy to cause photo-electric emission. Accordingly, the radiation may be in the ultra-violet region of the visible spectrum or have a higher frequency than that of ultra-violet light, i.e. greater than 1015Hz.
The trigger means may be adapted to generate the electro-magnetic radiation by means of a fast, low energy electrical trigger discharge. The switch may further include a radiation enhancing member disposed such that the trigger discharge occurs across a surface of the radiation enhancing member, the radiation enhancing member being of a suitable material such as a ceramic material, to increase the intensity of the radiation generated by the trigger discharge.
B
.
. .
~ss~3~
The main electrodes may have a uniform surface geometry such that a uniform, static electric field is developed between them. Further, in order to provide for a sufficient current carrying capacity, the main electrodes may have an extended discharge surface.
In order to increase the breakdown voltage of the gap, the insulating gas may have a high dielectric co-efficient, and the gas may be pressurized. Additives may also be added to the gas to assist in the photo-electric emission of electrons.
In order to minimise the switch-on time of the switch, the main electrodes may be located as close as possible to one another (according to the hold-off voltage required of the switch), to provide a very small breakdown gap. The housing may further have at least an inlet opening wherethrough the gas may be introduced into the chamber. An outlet opening may also be provided so that gas may be passed through the chamber.
The electrodes may be of any suitable electrically conducting material, such as copper, aluminium, stainless steel, carbon or the like, and the insulating gas may be any suitable yas such as nitrogen, sulphur hexafluoride, or the like, which has a high dielectric constant and is electrically insulatin~.
.~, . . !
.
'' '~,~ ' ' ' ~, ........................... .
~'' ' ''~ .
1~35~34 A switch according to the invention may be used in any suitable high voltage application. ~s nano-second switching times may be obtained with the switch, it may conveniently be used to excite lasers.
BRIEF DESCRIPT ON OF THE DRAWINGS.
The invention will now be described by way of an example with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a sectional view of the electrode arrangement for a high-voltage self-triggered switch according to the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF ILLU~TRATIVE EMBODIMENT.
. . .
Referring to the drawing, the electrode arrangement for a self-triggered high-voltage switch is shown genrally by reference numeral 50. The arrangement 50 comprises two spaced-apart main electrodes 54.1 and 54.2 defining a main discharge gap 56 and two spaced-apart trigger electrodes 58.1 and 58.2 defining a trigger discharge gap 60. The trigger electrode 58.1 and the main electrode 54.1 are formed from one piece of a suitable metal, such as stainless steel, as with the trigger electrode 58.2 and the main electrode 54.2. The main elec-trodes 54.1 and 54.2 are closer together than the trigger electrodes 58.1 and 58.2, the main discharge gap 56 being smaller than the trigger discharge gap 60. However, as the main electrodes 54.1 and 5~.2 are rounded and the trigger electrodes 58.1 and 58.2 are pointed, a highly-stressed electric field is developed by the trigger electrodes 58.1 and 58.2, resulting in the trigger electrodes 58.1 and 58.2 having a lower breakdown voltage than the main electrodes 54.1 and 54.2.
' ~ "
. . .
1~9563~
~ ceramic insulator 62 is provided adjacent the trigger electrodes 58.1 and 58.2 to provide a surface 64 across which the trigger discharge occurs. The electrodes are housed in a housing having openings through which a suitable insu-lating gas may be introduced and removed. For the sake of clarity, details of the housing are not shown.
In operation, a high voltage pulse is applied across the electrodes. ~s the trigger electrodes 58.1 and 58.2 have a lower breakdown voltage, a trigger discharge first occurs across the ceramic surface 64. This generates ultra-violet light of high intensity which irradiates the insulating gas in the main discharge gap 56. This results in photo-electric emission of electrons in the main discharge gap 56 having a suitable initial electron density. When a sufficient electron density is generated a very fast distributed discharge occurs between the main electrodes 54.1 and 54.2. ~s the dynamic resistance between the two main electrodes 54.1 and S4.2 is much less than that between the trigger electrodes 58.1 and 58.2, the discharge between the trigger electrodes 58.1 and 58.2 decreases substantially in magnitude, resulting in minimal erosion of the trigger electrodes 58.1 and 58.2.
Further, as a substantial portion of the current flowing in the trigger discharge is transferred to the main discharge, very fast switching occurs.
,, , ~
', '' " ' :
Claims (10)
1. A high voltage electric switch which includes:
a housing defining a chamber and adapted to contain an electrically insulating gas;
two spaced-apart main electrodes housed within the chamber, and defining between them a breakdown gap;
connecting means for connecting the electrodes in an electrical circuit, and trigger means in close proximity to the gap and comprising two trigger electrodes, each being directly electrically connected to different ones of the main electrodes, the geometry of the electrodes being such that the breakdown voltage between the trigger electrodes is less than the breakdown voltage between the main electrodes, the trigger means being adapted to generate electrically electro-magnetic radiation which irradiates a substantial portion of the insulating gas in the breakdown gap, the radiation being of a sufficiently high intensity to cause substantial photo-electric emission of electrons in the gas and thus breakdown of the gas and an electrical discharge between the main electrodes.
a housing defining a chamber and adapted to contain an electrically insulating gas;
two spaced-apart main electrodes housed within the chamber, and defining between them a breakdown gap;
connecting means for connecting the electrodes in an electrical circuit, and trigger means in close proximity to the gap and comprising two trigger electrodes, each being directly electrically connected to different ones of the main electrodes, the geometry of the electrodes being such that the breakdown voltage between the trigger electrodes is less than the breakdown voltage between the main electrodes, the trigger means being adapted to generate electrically electro-magnetic radiation which irradiates a substantial portion of the insulating gas in the breakdown gap, the radiation being of a sufficiently high intensity to cause substantial photo-electric emission of electrons in the gas and thus breakdown of the gas and an electrical discharge between the main electrodes.
2.. A high voltage switch as claimed in Claim 1, which includes a radiation enhancing member disposed such that the trigger discharge occurs across a surface of the radiation enhancing member, the radiation enhancing member being of a suitable material to increase the intensity of the radiation generated by the trigger discharge.
3. A high voltage switch as claimed in Claim 2, in which the radiation enhancing member is of a ceramic material.
4. A high voltage switch as claimed in Claim 1, in which the main electrodes have a uniform surface geometry such that a uniform, static electric field is developed between them.
5. A high voltage switch as claimed in Claim 1, in which the main electrodes have an extended discharge surface.
6. A high voltage switch as claimed in Claim 1, in which the electrically insulating gas has a high dielectric co-efficient.
7. A high voltage switch as claimed in Claim 1, in which the pressure of the gas in the chamber is greater than atmospheric pressure.
8. A high voltage switch as claimed in Claim 1, in which suitable additives are admixed with the gas to assist in the photo-electric emission of electrons.
9. A high voltage switch as claimed in Claim 1, in which the gap separation of the main electrodes is minimal, as determined by a predetermined hold-off voltage required of the switch.
10. A high voltage switch as claimed in Claim 1, in which the housing has an inlet opening wherethrough the gas may be introduced into the chamber.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA253,790A CA1095634A (en) | 1976-06-01 | 1976-06-01 | High voltage electric switch |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA253,790A CA1095634A (en) | 1976-06-01 | 1976-06-01 | High voltage electric switch |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1095634A true CA1095634A (en) | 1981-02-10 |
Family
ID=4106094
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA253,790A Expired CA1095634A (en) | 1976-06-01 | 1976-06-01 | High voltage electric switch |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1095634A (en) |
-
1976
- 1976-06-01 CA CA253,790A patent/CA1095634A/en not_active Expired
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry | ||
| MKEX | Expiry |
Effective date: 19980210 |