High-current vacuum triggered switching devices

TLDR

The authors develop new high‑current vacuum switches and a high‑voltage controlled vacuum commutator based on series‑connected TVS units. The study characterizes the TVS units RVU‑47 and RVU‑45, detailing their switching currents, transferred charges, and mass‑dimensional parameters, and evaluates the commutator’s current‑voltage range and dielectric strength under varying voltage distributions. Tests show that RVU‑47 can switch up to 200 kA with 40 C charge, while RVU‑45 reaches 500 kA with 300 C, demonstrating high‑current performance.

Abstract

On the basis of researches of pulse high-current vacuum arc in a rod electrode system, new types of triggered vacuum switches (TVS) are developed. The TVSs are characterized by various limiting parameters and mass-dimensional characteristics: RVU-47 with maximum switching current up to 200 kA at transferred charge in a pulse up to 40 C and RVU-45 with maximum switching current up to 500 kA at transferred charge in a pulse up to 300 C. Results of tests of these TVSs are presented. The high-voltage controlled vacuum commutator on the basis of two series connected TVS of type RVU-43 is developed and manufactured. The commutator is characterized by wide range of working currents 5-300 kA and voltages 1-80 kV. Dielectric strength of the commutator is investigated depending on nonuniformity of voltage distribution between separate RVU-43.