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This paper proposes a flyback-circuit-based design of a trigger circuit for a high-power gas switch. By incorporating a flyback circuit in a high-power gas switch, it is possible to generate a high step-up ratio and high-voltage pulse by using a transformer. Furthermore, simple trigger circuit having the minimum possible number of components (transformer and switch) can be realized. When an inductor is used as an energy storage element, energy is stored as a current source, and thus, the element can operate reliably when low impedance exists between the trigger node of the switch after triggering. According to the fundamental operating principle of a flyback circuit, the proposed trigger circuit is designed considering the maximum trigger voltage and energy required for a high-power gas switch. To verify the proposed design procedure and feasibility of the trigger circuit, a compact trigger circuit (7.5 kV, 1.3 mJ/pulse) is simulated using the PSpice program and implemented. Based on this compact circuit, a trigger circuit (20 kV, 100 mJ/pulse) for a triggered vacuum switch (TVS) is developed, and the tests with an actual TVS (3.3 kJ) are carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the design, construction, and test procedure of a closing-switch prototype based on thyristors are described. In particular, details are given about the design criteria and the triggering board architecture, which is a high-side-biased self-supplied unit using electrical energy derived from a local snubber network for the gate drive. The structure guarantees a hard firing gate pulse for the required high-dI/dt application. Furthermore, the results of the prototype tests are presented and discussed. The stack assembly has a holding voltage of 6.5 kV and is used for switching a series resonant circuit with a ringing frequency of 12 kHz for a pulsed inductive plasma source. Maximum current amplitudes of 13 kA and pulse energies of more than 600 J were switched during the test procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]