An PBY-73C Vacuum Spark Gap with a Control Circuit Based on an Inductive Energy Storage

摘要

The design and operating principle of a small (50 mm in diameter and 100 mm in height) PBY-73C vacuum spark gap are described. It is shown that it can be efficiently switched using a control circuit with a low (～900 V) supply voltage, which is based on an inductive energy storage and a diode opening switch that forms a high-voltage igniting pulse with a rise time of nanosecond duration. The PBY-73C switching process is investigated at different rise times of igniting voltage pulses and different igniting current amplitudes. The results of tests of the spark gap operating in regimes of switching current pulses with an amplitude of 12 kA and a rise time of 800 ns are presented.