Information AboutThyratron |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT THYRATRON | |
| vacuum tubes | |
| switches | |
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hydrogen thyratron, used in pulsed Radar s, next to miniature 2D21 thyratron used to trigger Relay s in Jukebox es]] Thyratrons evolved in the 1920s from early Vacuum Tube s such as the UV-200, which contained a small amount of argon gas to increase its Sensitivity as a Radio signal detector; and the German LRS Relay tube, which also contained argon gas. Gas Rectifier s which predated vacuum tubes, such as the argon-filled General Electric " Tungar bulb" and the Cooper-Hewitt Mercury Pool Rectifier , also provided an influence. A thyratron is basically a "controlled gas rectifier". Irving Langmuir and G. S. Meikle of GE are usually cited as the first investigators to study controlled rectification in gas tubes, circa 1914. The first commercial thyratrons didn't appear until circa 1928. A typical hot-cathode thyratron uses a heated Filament Cathode , completely contained within a shield assembly with a Control Grid on one open side, which faces the plate-shaped Anode . When positive Voltage is applied to the anode, if the control electrode is kept at cathode potential, no current flows. When the control electrode is made slightly positive, gas between the anode and cathode ionizes and conducts current. The shield prevents ionized current paths that might form within other parts of the tube. The gas in a thyratron is typically at a fraction of the pressure of air at sea level; 15 to 30 millibars (1.5 to 3 kPa) is typical. Both hot and Cold Cathode versions are encountered. A hot cathode is an advantage, as ionization of the gas is made easier; thus, the tube's control electrode is more sensitive. Once turned on, the thyratron will remain on (conducting) as long as there is a significant current flowing through it. When the anode voltage or current falls to zero, the device switches off. Small thyratrons were manufactured in the past for controlling electromechanical relays and for industrial applications such as motor and arc-welding controllers. Large thyratrons are still manufactured, and are capable of operation up to tens of Kiloamperes (kA) and tens of Kilovolts (kV). Modern applications include pulse drivers for pulsed Radar equipment, high-energy gas Laser s, Radiotherapy devices, and in Tesla Coil s and similar devices. Thyratrons are also used in high-power UHF Television Transmitter s, to protect Inductive Output Tube s from internal Short s, by grounding the incoming high-voltage supply during the time it takes for a Circuit Breaker to open and reactive components to drain their stored charges. This is commonly called a " Crowbar " circuit. Thyratrons have been replaced in most low and medium-power applications by corresponding semiconductor devices known as Thyristor s (sometimes called Silicon Controlled Rectifiers, or SCRs) and Triac s. However, switching service requiring voltages above 20 kV and involving very short risetimes remains within the domain of the thyratron. Variations of the thyratron idea are the Krytron , the Sprytron , the Ignitron , and the triggered Spark Gap , all still used today in special applications. SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS
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