Power supply of a streamer corona using Fitch pulse generator switched by thyratrons

This report gives the description of an industrial pilot installation "PULSATECH/sup TM/" generating a pulsed corona discharge for use in technical applications. The power supply of the corona is based on the use of a three-stage Fitch pulsed voltage generator (FPG) with hydrogen-filled thyratrons as switching elements. The installation can be used for cleaning hazardous off-gases of-power plants and industrial objects, as well as in some exotic fields of application such as destruction of the chemical weapon stocks. Comparative data on the operation of the two types of gas-discharge switches-thyratron with heated cathode and thyratron with cold cathode (pseudo-spark switchboard-PSS) with a rated voltage of 50 kV are also reported. Operating time attained for the PSS of Russian design and fabrication in testing modes of operation, allows to expect a service life in real modes of operation up to 3-7 thousand hours.