Design and test of high-voltage, high-repetition rotary trigger double spark gap switch

Rev Sci Instrum. 2021 Jan 1;92(1):014702. doi: 10.1063/5.0023652.

Abstract

Spark gap switches are used in various high-power pulse systems because they can quickly transfer the energy stored in the capacitor to the load. A rotary trigger double spark gap (RTDSG) switch is proposed in this paper as a type of switch capable of high repetition at high power. It was found that a pulse switching of 20 kV and 1 kHz was possible by applying the multiple RTDSG switches to increase the repetition rate of the switch. In addition to the basic operating principle of the RTDSG, the effects of switching-related parameters on the operating frequency of the switch were analyzed. As an example of promising applications of the high repetition RTDSG, the generation of shock waves by underwater discharge and the effective dispersion of carbon nanotubes using the shock waves are reported.