Improving Triggering Characteristics for a Surface-Flashover Triggered Vacuum Switch

A surface-breakdown triggered vacuum switch with parallel disk electrodes and semiconductor surface flashover trigger electrode has many advantages, it is easy to be triggered and machined. The resistance of the trigger gap has been increased in terms of modifying the thickness of the semiconductor layer and improving coating process technology. The trigger gap resistance, trigger voltage and trigger waveforms were experimentally tested. The results show that the triggering characteristics can be improved by increasing the trigger resistance.