Method and arrangement for triggering a series spark gap
AssigneeALSTOM Technology Ltd
InventorJUSSI PÖYHÖNEN
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A series spark gap includes at least three partial spark gaps. In a continuous operation mode, a supply voltage acting over the partial spark gaps is divided by a first voltage dividing mechanism. During triggering, more than half of the partial spark gaps are bypassed by using a bypass mechanism such that more than half of the supply voltage acts over the partial spark gaps that are not bypassed, whereby the partial spark gap or the partial spark gaps that are not bypassed ignite. The voltage acting over the bypassed partial spark gaps is divided asymmetrically using the bypass mechanism, whereby the bypassed partial spark gaps ignite sequentially in the order determined by the asymmetric voltage division.
Claims12
A method for triggering a series spark gap in which there are at least three partial spark gaps in series, said method comprising the steps of:
- dividing a supply voltage acting over the partial spark gaps in a continuous operation mode by a first voltage dividing mechanism;
- bypassing more than half of the partial spark gaps during triggering using a bypass mechanism such that more than half of the supply voltage acts over the partial spark gaps that are not bypassed, whereby the partial spark gap or the partial spark gaps that are not bypassed ignite;
- and
- dividing during triggering the voltage acting over the bypassed partial spark gaps asymmetrically using the bypass mechanism, whereby the bypassed partial spark gaps ignite sequentially in the order determined by the asymmetric voltage division.
An arrangement for triggering a series spark gap, which series spark gap comprises at least three partial spark gaps in series, which arrangement comprises:
- a first voltage dividing mechanism configured to divide a supply voltage acting over the partial spark gaps in a continuous operation mode;
- and
- a bypass mechanism arranged to bypass more than half of the partial spark gaps,
- whereby the bypass mechanism comprises a second voltage dividing mechanism of different size for providing an asymmetric voltage division between the bypassed partial spark gaps.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.