US3435287A - Deionization of a gas discharge device by varying the tube parameters - Google Patents

Deionization of a gas discharge device by varying the tube parameters Download PDF

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Publication number
US3435287A
US3435287A US542680A US3435287DA US3435287A US 3435287 A US3435287 A US 3435287A US 542680 A US542680 A US 542680A US 3435287D A US3435287D A US 3435287DA US 3435287 A US3435287 A US 3435287A
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United States
Prior art keywords
valve
discharge
gas
breaker
current
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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 - Lifetime
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US542680A
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English (en)
Inventor
Clas Jacobsen
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ABB Norden Holding AB
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ASEA AB
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J17/00—Gas-filled discharge tubes with solid cathode
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H33/00—High-tension or heavy-current switches with arc-extinguishing or arc-preventing means
    • H01H33/02—Details
    • H01H33/59—Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the switch and not otherwise provided for, e.g. for ensuring operation of the switch at a predetermined point in the ac cycle
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J17/00—Gas-filled discharge tubes with solid cathode
    • H01J17/02—Details
    • H01J17/14—Magnetic means for controlling the discharge
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J17/00—Gas-filled discharge tubes with solid cathode
    • H01J17/02—Details
    • H01J17/34—One or more circuit elements structurally associated with the tube
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01T—SPARK GAPS; OVERVOLTAGE ARRESTERS USING SPARK GAPS; SPARKING PLUGS; CORONA DEVICES; GENERATING IONS TO BE INTRODUCED INTO NON-ENCLOSED GASES
    • H01T1/00—Details of spark gaps

Definitions

  • An electric circuit making device comprises a series connection of a circuit breaker or isolating switch and a current regulating gaseous discharge valve.
  • a normal low voltage are can be maintained only if the relationship R-n A exists, where R is proportional to the efiective area of discharge, n1 is the density of neutral atoms in the gas, and A is a parameter which depends on the type of neutral atoms in the gas.
  • the gas discharge valve is provided for means for regulating at least one of the parameters in the inequality in such a direction that the discharge in the valve changes over from plasma condition with low arc voltage drops to space charge condition with higher arc voltage drop, and the circuit breaker or isolating switch is provided with means for opening it as soon as the current through the discharge valve is depressed due to the high voltage drop in the valve.
  • the present invention relates to a circuit breaker device which can be used for breaking direct current as well as alternating current. It consists of a conventional breaker or isolating circuit breaker in series with a cur-' rent regulating, preferably cylindrical gas discharge valve for which a normal low voltage are can be maintained only if the condition R-n A is obtained, where R is the effective radius of the valve, n the density of neutral atoms in the gas and A is a parameter which depends on the type of neutral atoms in the gas and possibly a magnetic field.
  • the invention is characterised in that the gas discharge valve is provided with means for regulating at least one of the parameters in the non-equation R nA in such a direction that the discharge in the valve goes over from plasma condition with low arc voltage drop to space condition with high voltage drop or vice versa.
  • FIG. 1 shows the principle of construction of the device
  • FIGS. 2-5 show several difierent embodiments of the gas discharge valve in the device.
  • the low axial electrical field strength of the positive column depends on the plasma condition being maintained everywhere.
  • the permanent loss of ion-electron pairs to the wall is balanced by a corresponding new generation of charged particles in the volume.
  • the discharge is allowed to operate in the area R-n A, but the generating mechanism is influenced by further means so that the loss speed of the ion-electron pairs is lower than normal.
  • This can be carried out for example by an outer magnetic field.
  • equilibrium can also be maintained in an area where it is not normally possible.
  • the discharge can be made to go from plasma condition with low arc voltage drop to space charge condition with high are voltage drop, after which quenching of the arc can be effected by a conventional breaker.
  • the discharge is started within the area R-n A and then the generating speed is reducedlocally or generally so that it falls below the loss speed and the same process as described above is obtained.
  • low arc voltage drop we mean approximately 50 v.
  • high are voltage drop means around kv. at 0.1 a./cm. per one metre length of the arc.
  • FIG. 1 the general device of the discharge valve is shown as well as the breaker Bs connected in series to it, which breaker can be a conventional breaker or an isolating circuit breaker.
  • breaker can be a conventional breaker or an isolating circuit breaker.
  • Parallel to the discharge valve a sec- 0nd breaker Bp is connected. During normal operation this breaker is closed and thus the discharge valve is short circuited.
  • the embodiment of the discharge valve according to the invention shown in FIG. 2 comprises a casing 1 in which in a known way an anode 2 and a cathode 3 are arranged.
  • a magnetising winding 4 which generates an axial magnetic flux passing through the casing when the winding is traversed by the magnetising current.
  • the magnetising current source is here shown schematically as a battery 5 which is connected to a resistor 6.
  • the magnetising winding is connected between the device one end 7 of the resistor and a movable contact 8.
  • the magnetic field reduces the value on the parameter A. If therefore the product R-n is suitably chosen it is possible to alter the impedance of the discharge from low to high value by allowing the magnetic field to vary from a high value to Zero.
  • any suitable magnetising current source with control means can be used.
  • the casing is provided with a number of bulges .10 which can extend round the casing or only around a part of the casing.
  • bulges discs 11 which can be shaped like diaphragms of a camera so that they can be displaced out of the bulges and thereby reduce the effective radius R of the casing.
  • R-n A and the arc burns with low voltage drop. If R is changed by the discs being moved towards the centre of the valve so that the effective radius of the valve is reduced, the discharge will go over to space charge condition when R-n A.
  • the are voltage drop then rises to a very high value and this means that the current through the valve falls to such a low value that the lbreaker Bs connected in series with the valve can break the circuit.
  • the discharge valve 1 is provided with a gas inlet 15 with a gas valve 16. Further a vacuum pump 17 is connected to the valve through a vacuum valve 18. The breaker Bp connected in parallel with the valve 1 is normally closed so that the valve is short circuited. A small gas current goes continually from the gas valve 16 through the discharge valve to the vacuum pump 17 through the partly closed vacuum valve 18. By this means such a large gas pressure is maintained in the discharge valve that the condition R-n A, i.e. the number of neutral gas atoms is so great that a normal low voltage discharge are can be maitnained through the tube 1.
  • the breaker Bp When breaking is to be carried out, the breaker Bp is opened and through the increased voltage over the valve 1 a discharge is ignited through this with a considerably smaller arc voltage than the voltage of the are over the breaker Bp. Thereby the current will be moved from the breaker Bp to the valve.
  • the breaking distance in Bp is completely de-ionised, the gas valve 16 is completely closed and the vacuum valve 18 is opened.
  • the pressure in the tube .1 falls quickly so that the number of neutral gas atoms falls so that the condition R'n A is obtained and the discharge in the tube goes over to a space charge current with high are voltage drop.
  • the current is by this means limited so strongly that the breaker Bs connected in series with the valve can break the current.
  • the gas valve 16 is closed and the vacuum valve is completely open.
  • the breaker Bp is opened and by its arc voltage the discharge is ignited through the valve 1 when the gas valve 16 is opened and a certain quantity of gas is let into the valve.
  • This quantity of gas shall be so great that the discharge can ignite and burn as long as necessary in order that the breaker shall be completely de-ionised.
  • the gas valve is closed and the pressure falls quickly so that the condition R-n A is obtained and the space charge limited current is produced. Possibly a sufficiently large quantity of gas can be let in at a single short opening of the valve, i.e. that the gas valve is closed before the breaker is completely de-ionised.
  • the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. has a large vacuum container 19 placed below the discharge valve. Normally the complete system is evacuated with a relatively small vacuum pump 20. When the arc discharge at a breaking of the current circuit is to be ignited a certain quantity of gas is allowed in through the gas valve 16'. The gas is accelerated downwards in the tube by the difference in pressure in the tube. When the gas front has reached the cathode the discharge is ignited assuming that the breaker has a sufficiently high are voltage. The gas continues to expand into the vacuum container and the pressure in the valve falls still more.
  • the condition R-n A will be obtained in the discharge valve before the pressure is equalized in the complete vacuum system and before any gas has had time to be pumped out by the vacuum pump.
  • the vacuum pump can be small but that nevertheless the characteristics of a large pump are produced by the vacuum system having a relatively great volume.
  • the breaking device according to the invention can be made so that it can be used for alternating current as well as for direct current.
  • the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 can also be made so that it can be used for inverters as well as for rectifiers by the discharge being simply and quickly regulated between plasma and space charge condition.
  • An electric circuit breaking device comprising a series connection of a circuit breaker or isolating switch and a current regulating gas discharge valve, in which a normal low voltage arc can be maintained only if the relationship R-n.
  • R is proportional to the effective area of the discharge
  • n is the density of neutral atoms in the gas
  • A is a parameter, which depends on the type of neutral atoms in the gas, characterized in that the gas discharge valve is provided with means for regulating at least one of the parameters in the non-equal relationship R-nZA in such a direction that the discharge in the valve changes over from plasma condition with low arc voltage drop to space charge condition with high are voltage drop and that said circuit breaker or isolating switch is provided with means for opening it as soon as the current through the discharge valve is depressed due to the high voltage drop in the valve.
  • said current regulating means comprises a magnetic device which can generate a longitudinal magnetic field in the valve of such a size and direction that the parameter A will be greater than the product R-n.
  • a device in which said current regulating means is provided with at least one variable diaphragm for reducing the effective radius R of the value so that the product R-n falls below the value A.
  • a device in which the discharge valve is connected in parallel with a circuit breaker which is normally closed.
  • said regulating means comprises means for altering the pressure in the gas, so that the number of neutral atoms in the gas is altered.
  • said regulating means comprises means with a gas inlet controlled by References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Capart 315-62 X Smith 313-161 X Stoddard 317-11 Lee 313-148 X Coleman 313-161 JAMES W. LAWRENCE, Primary Examiner.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • High-Tension Arc-Extinguishing Switches Without Spraying Means (AREA)
  • Plasma Technology (AREA)
US542680A 1965-04-15 1966-04-14 Deionization of a gas discharge device by varying the tube parameters Expired - Lifetime US3435287A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE500665 1965-04-15
SE673565 1965-05-24

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3435287A true US3435287A (en) 1969-03-25

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US542680A Expired - Lifetime US3435287A (en) 1965-04-15 1966-04-14 Deionization of a gas discharge device by varying the tube parameters

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US3435287A (de)
CH (1) CH446475A (de)
DE (1) DE1281526B (de)
GB (1) GB1137413A (de)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3492532A (en) * 1967-11-17 1970-01-27 Minnesota Mining & Mfg Overvoltage protection device
US3519882A (en) * 1967-11-03 1970-07-07 M O Valve Co Ltd Gas discharge tube with magnetic means for extinguishing the discharge
US4284927A (en) * 1977-06-06 1981-08-18 Iosifian Andronik G Method for breaking direct current and d.c. breaker for effecting same
US4360763A (en) * 1979-03-13 1982-11-23 Instytut Badan Jadrowych Method and device for control of great currents particularly of the pulse type
EP0320185A2 (de) * 1987-12-05 1989-06-14 Eev Limited Thyratrons
US5773787A (en) * 1996-08-28 1998-06-30 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Air Force Plasma-gun voltage generator

Citations (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1902958A (en) * 1929-08-14 1933-03-28 Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co Circuit breaker
US1996321A (en) * 1930-03-18 1935-04-02 Sarl Le Parafoudre Universel C Lightning arrester with ionization chamber
US2137198A (en) * 1925-03-05 1938-11-15 Raytheon Mfg Co Electric device
US2157925A (en) * 1937-03-13 1939-05-09 Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co Electric discharge apparatus
US2215804A (en) * 1938-06-30 1940-09-24 Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co Circuit interrupting apparatus
US2293296A (en) * 1939-07-28 1942-08-18 Bbc Brown Boveri & Cie Arrangement for the sparkless interruption of currents
US2378226A (en) * 1943-11-20 1945-06-12 Designers For Industry Inc Altimeter
US2546818A (en) * 1946-04-23 1951-03-27 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Electric switch contact protection
US2660687A (en) * 1952-10-30 1953-11-24 Rca Corp Mercury vapor rectifier tube employing magnetic field
US2884584A (en) * 1952-06-30 1959-04-28 August Hamilton Schilling Mechanical current converters
US2934664A (en) * 1958-04-14 1960-04-26 Tung Sol Electric Inc Adjustable constant current device
US2996633A (en) * 1958-02-13 1961-08-15 Zenith Radio Corp Low inductance switch
US3263112A (en) * 1963-07-08 1966-07-26 Alan C Kolb Magnetic blowout switch
US3327165A (en) * 1964-10-26 1967-06-20 John A Hawthorne Ignition system
US3343034A (en) * 1961-06-21 1967-09-19 Energy Conversion Devices Inc Transient suppressor

Family Cites Families (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE315095C (de) *
DE291880C (de) *
DE317799C (de) *
DE396635C (de) * 1920-04-15 1924-06-06 Expl Des Procedes Maurice Lebl Dreielektrodenroehre mit einer aus parallelen und versetzt liegenden Gittern gebildeten Gitterelektrode
DE601265C (de) * 1925-07-11 1934-08-11 Siemens Schuckertwerke Akt Ges Einrichtung zum Unterbrechen elektrischer Stroeme
DE912832C (de) * 1939-09-27 1954-06-03 Siemens Ag Kondensatorschalter zum Unterbrechen von Gleichstrom- Hochspannungsleitungen unter Last
DE881234C (de) * 1951-09-22 1953-06-29 Siemens Ag Ionenstromschalter
DE945274C (de) * 1952-04-04 1956-07-05 Siemens Ag Schaltroehre
DE1042115B (de) * 1955-11-26 1958-10-30 Kern & Sprenger K G Dr Wassergekuehlte Wasserstofflampe mit Quarzentladungsgefaess
US2951890A (en) * 1957-04-11 1960-09-06 Ici Ltd Method of operating an electric arc furnace

Patent Citations (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2137198A (en) * 1925-03-05 1938-11-15 Raytheon Mfg Co Electric device
US1902958A (en) * 1929-08-14 1933-03-28 Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co Circuit breaker
US1996321A (en) * 1930-03-18 1935-04-02 Sarl Le Parafoudre Universel C Lightning arrester with ionization chamber
US2157925A (en) * 1937-03-13 1939-05-09 Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co Electric discharge apparatus
US2215804A (en) * 1938-06-30 1940-09-24 Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co Circuit interrupting apparatus
US2293296A (en) * 1939-07-28 1942-08-18 Bbc Brown Boveri & Cie Arrangement for the sparkless interruption of currents
US2378226A (en) * 1943-11-20 1945-06-12 Designers For Industry Inc Altimeter
US2546818A (en) * 1946-04-23 1951-03-27 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Electric switch contact protection
US2884584A (en) * 1952-06-30 1959-04-28 August Hamilton Schilling Mechanical current converters
US2660687A (en) * 1952-10-30 1953-11-24 Rca Corp Mercury vapor rectifier tube employing magnetic field
US2996633A (en) * 1958-02-13 1961-08-15 Zenith Radio Corp Low inductance switch
US2934664A (en) * 1958-04-14 1960-04-26 Tung Sol Electric Inc Adjustable constant current device
US3343034A (en) * 1961-06-21 1967-09-19 Energy Conversion Devices Inc Transient suppressor
US3263112A (en) * 1963-07-08 1966-07-26 Alan C Kolb Magnetic blowout switch
US3327165A (en) * 1964-10-26 1967-06-20 John A Hawthorne Ignition system

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3519882A (en) * 1967-11-03 1970-07-07 M O Valve Co Ltd Gas discharge tube with magnetic means for extinguishing the discharge
US3492532A (en) * 1967-11-17 1970-01-27 Minnesota Mining & Mfg Overvoltage protection device
US4284927A (en) * 1977-06-06 1981-08-18 Iosifian Andronik G Method for breaking direct current and d.c. breaker for effecting same
US4360763A (en) * 1979-03-13 1982-11-23 Instytut Badan Jadrowych Method and device for control of great currents particularly of the pulse type
EP0320185A2 (de) * 1987-12-05 1989-06-14 Eev Limited Thyratrons
EP0320185A3 (de) * 1987-12-05 1989-10-18 Eev Limited Thyratrons
US4954748A (en) * 1987-12-05 1990-09-04 Eev Limited Thyratron gas discharge device with magnetic field for improved ionization
US5773787A (en) * 1996-08-28 1998-06-30 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Air Force Plasma-gun voltage generator

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CH446475A (de) 1967-11-15
GB1137413A (en) 1968-12-18
DE1281526B (de) 1968-10-31

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