Structural optimization of multi-gap gas switch with corona discharge for voltage balance

The corona discharge effect was employed in the design of the multi-gap gas switch for voltage balance. The performance of the switch was determined by the consistency of the corona current in each gap. Aiming at optimizing the design of the 6-gap switch, corona current in each gap was experimentally investigated at gas pressure from 0.1 to 0.4 MPa. The result shows that corona current in the pin-panel gap is significantly higher than that in the pin-rod gap. 3-D static-electric simulations were carried out, the results of which agree well with that of the experiments. Based on the experiments and simulations, design of the multi-gap gas switch was improved, which achieved a relative standard deviation of corona current in each gap of 8% when charged to 25 kV.