Light-fired thyristor development
Abstract
A light-fired thyristor switch was demonstrated in one phase of a static volts-amperes-reactive generator and is presently under extended testing. The building of this 13.8-kV, bidirectional, 1200-A rms, solid-state switch required the development of the thyristor element and its special package, a light system consisting of laser diodes and a light distribution harness, and a special monitoring and protecting control circuit to protect the switch against various conditions under which it might not function safely. The switch is entirely self-contained and replaces the electrically gated version with no need for changes in the circuit to which it is connected. The report gives details on the development of each of the novel parts of the system; on the testing of each part of the system; and on the building, installation, and early evaluation of the switch.
- Publication:
-
Interim Report Westinghouse Electric Corp
- Pub Date:
- July 1981
- Bibcode:
- 1981wec..reptT....S
- Keywords:
-
- Lasers;
- Light Sources;
- Switching Circuits;
- Thyristors;
- Circuit Protection;
- Diodes;
- Electric Power Plants;
- Electronic Packaging;
- Electronics and Electrical Engineering