Metal vapor vacuum arc switching - Applications and results
Abstract
The design of metal-vapor vacuum-arc switches (MVSs) for electromagnetic launchers is discussed, and preliminary results are presented for an experimental MVS. The general principles of triggered-vacuum-gap and vacuum-interrupter MVSs are reviewed, and the requirements of electromagnetic launchers are analyzed. High-current design problems such as electrode erosion, current sharing, magnetic effects, and thermal effects are examined. The experimental MVS employs stainless-steel flanges, a glass vacuum vessel, an adjustable electrode gap, autonomous internal magnetic-field coils, and a tungsten-pin trigger assembly. Some results from tests without magnetic augmentation are presented graphically.
- Publication:
-
IEEE Transactions on Magnetics
- Pub Date:
- March 1984
- DOI:
- 10.1109/TMAG.1984.1063106
- Bibcode:
- 1984ITM....20..316C
- Keywords:
-
- Electric Arcs;
- Electromagnetic Propulsion;
- Launchers;
- Metal Vapors;
- Switching Circuits;
- Vacuum Arc Switches;
- Vacuum Effects;
- Electric Switches;
- High Current;
- Magnetic Effects;
- Solid Electrodes;
- Electronics and Electrical Engineering