Numerical Simulation of the Closing Process in a Gas Peaking Switch

Abstract

The closing process of a gas peaking switch was divided into two phases, gas breakdown and voltage collapse. The gas breakdown phase starts from an electron avalanche and ends at a streamer connecting electrodes. The criterion for an electron avalanche to transit to streamer was considered as the criterion of gas breakdown. The voltage collapse begins immediately after the gas breakdown. The spark channel theory developed by Rompe-Wiezel was used to calculate the spark resistance. The discharge in the switch with pressurized hydrogen or nitrogen under very fast charging voltage was numerically simulated. The switch delay as well as the breakdown voltage and the rise time of output voltage from the switch were determined. The results from the calculations show good agreement with the results from experiments.