Development of a triggered vacuum switch for a ETC gun system

We had designed, fabricated, and tested sealed-off triggered vacuum switches (TVSs) to use as an ETC-gun switch. To fabricate the sealed-off TVS, we developed fabrication processes such as part machining, chemical cleaning, ceramic to metal and metal to metal brazing, metal welding, baking, getter processing and test procedures. The switches fabricated were tested with capacitor banks of 100 kJ and 300 kJ. The prototype switches were successfully tested up to 30 kV peak charging voltage, 100 kA peak current, 1.2 ms pulsewidth, and 74-coulomb integrated charge transfer. It also showed good trigger capability. In addition, we tested rectifier characteristic of the switch. This paper describes test results of the switch characteristics.