High voltage switch
AssigneeBAE SYSTEMS plc
InventorPaul Anthony James Garner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A high voltage switch is provided, comprising a pair of electrodes housed within a high pressure gas vessel and separated by a nominal distance D. At least one of the electrodes is provided with raised surface features each having a radius of curvature that is significantly smaller than the electrode separation D. Preferably one of the electrodes is flat-faced. Preferred gas pressures within the pressure vessel are in the range 300 psi to 1200 psi. When used to switch voltages of several hundred kilovolts, an operational life for the electrodes of between 400 and 1000 hours has been achieved.
Claims13
A high voltage switch, suitable for switching voltages of the order of several hundred kilovolts comprising:
- a containment vessel for holding a gas under pressure;
- first and second electrodes housed within the containment vessel and electrically isolated therefrom;
- wherein the first and second electrodes are supported in a face-to-face arrangement whereby the facing surfaces of the first and second electrodes are separated by a nominal distance and the facing surface of the first electrode comprises at least one raised portion that is raised in comparison with the remainder of the facing surface,
- wherein the at least one raised portion of the first electrode comprises a raised annular region surrounding a center region at the center of the facing surface,
- wherein the center region has a diameter and is essentially flat over its entire area surrounded by the at least one raised portion, and
- wherein the second electrode is substantially flat over its entire area and has a diameter greater than the diameter of the center region of the first electrode.
A high voltage switch, suitable for switching voltages of the order of several hundred kilovolts comprising:
- a containment vessel for holding a gas at high pressure;
- first and second electrodes housed within the containment vessel and electrically isolated therefrom, each defining an electrode diameter;
- wherein the first and second electrodes are supported in a face-to-face arrangement whereby the facing surfaces of the first and second electrodes are separated by a nominal distance and the facing surface of the first electrode comprises at least one raised portion that is raised in comparison with the remainder of the facing surface,
- wherein the at least one raised portion of the first electrode comprises a raised annular region surrounding a center region at the center of the facing surface,
- wherein the center region is essentially flat over its entire area surrounded by the at least one raised portion,
- wherein the second electrode is substantially flat over its entire area and has a diameter greater than the diameter of the center region of the first electrode, and
- wherein the containment vessel contains a gas at a pressure in the range of 300 psi to 1200 psi.
A high voltage switch, suitable for switching voltages of the order of several hundred kilovolts comprising:
- a containment vessel for holding a gas under pressure;
- first and second electrodes housed within the containment vessel and electrically isolated therefrom;
- wherein the first and second electrodes are supported in a face-to-face arrangement whereby the facing surfaces of the first and second electrodes are separated by a nominal distance and the facing surface of the first electrode comprises at least one raised portion that is raised in comparison with the remainder of the facing surface,
- wherein the at least one raised portion of the first electrode comprises a raised annular region surrounding a center region at the center of the facing surface,
- wherein the center region has a diameter and is essentially flat over its entire area surrounded by the at least one raised portion,
- wherein the second electrode is substantially flat over its entire area and has a diameter greater than the diameter of the center region of the first electrode, and
- wherein the raised annular region defines a rim edge, the rim edge having a radius of curvature and the ratio of the rim edge radius of curvature to the second electrode diameter is between approximately 1:45 and 1:65.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.