Peculiarities of gas-discharge current interrupter operation in a high-power modulator

The commutation characteristics of a gas-discharge current interrupter with magnetic control and its utilization in a pulsed modulator with partial discharge of the capacitive storage device have been considered. The interrupter ensures stable operation of the modulator in a regime in which groups of pulses are generated having a group length of up to 30 sec, a pulse repetition frequency in the group of up to 400 Hz, an average power of up to 180 kW, and an anode voltage of up to 25 kV. An analysis has been performed of the power loss expended for control. It has been demonstrated that it is expedient to use a getter pump in the interrupters, and recommendations have been given for improving the construction of the interrupters and optimizing the regime in which they are switched on.