UDC 621.387.32
MECHANICAL STRENGTH OF UNCONTROLLED
HIGH-PRESSURE SPARK GAP - SHARPENER DESIGN
D. S. Makhanko, senior researcher, JSC Plasma, Ryazan, Russia;
orcid.org/0000-0002-7609-9970, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
A. Ya. Payurov, senior researcher, JSC Plasma, Ryazan, Russia;
orcid.org/0000-0001-5632-5945, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The problem of determining the factors affecting mechanical strength of uncontrolled high-pressure
spark gap-sharpeners designed to generate voltage pulses with an amplitude of up to 500 kV with rise times
of a fraction of a nanosecond is considered. The aim of the work is to determine by calculation and by direct
testing the structural strength of a spark gap-sharpener with working pressure of up to 120 technical atmospheres
(kgs/cm2). It was found that when preparing uncontrolled sealed-off high-pressure spark gapsharpeners
in metal-ceramic versions of RO – 48, RO – 43, RO – 49 series with optimal geometric dimensions,
from the viewpoint of ensuring necessary electrical strength, when manufacturing a 12H18N10T stainless
steel case with wall thickness of 2 mm and high–voltage cone-shaped insulator made of aluminum oxide
ceramics of VK94-1 (22HS) type with wall thickness of 3 mm, they can be filled with working gases up to the
pressure of 120 technical atmospheres.
Key words: spark gap-sharpener, mechanical strength, ceramic insulator, operating pressures, argon
arc welding, metal-ceramic soldered joint.