He Xiaoping

Characteristics of SF6 Switch with a Small Gap under High Pressure and Nanosecond Pulse

Structural design and tests on the characteristics of the SF6 gas switch with a small gap are presented. This kind of switch often works under high pressure and nanosecond pulse for getting pulse with faster risetime. The breakdown voltage and breakdown delay of a number of switches with different geometries, gas pressures and pulse waveforms were investigated. Experimental results suggested that the breakdown voltage increases linearly with the gas pressure, and the breakdown delay decreases with an increase in the gas pressure and a reduction in the gap distance of the switch under the same applied pulse. By using this kind of switch with a gap of 3 mm as a peaking switch, a pulse generator can provide an output voltage with a peak voltage of 300 kV and a risetime of 3 ns on a resistance load of 150 Ω.