Looking for electronic switch that supports 12KV

i have found recently a problem in my Project.

i have a 12KV Generator
and i want to use it to Generate Electric Lightning in a particular Way

i'am blocked because i cannot found any Electronic Swith that can support 12kv
i used a Manual swith but the Power Jump From Side to Side also if it Openned
i think the Jumping Distance is 2-3 CM

also my Board is Controlled by a Pic and the switch must be controlled by it

12KV ____ \__|===|__ GND

Regards

Thanks in Advance

Re: 12KV Switch

How do you generate the 12kV? Transformer? Van-de-Graaff-Generator?
Usually the low voltage (primary) side of a transformer is switched ...


Mik

12KV Switch

Hello and thanks for your answer
I use a Transformer

Re: 12KV Switch

PLEASE CHECK FOR SAFETY

I dont think it is a good idea to switch 12Kv side, instead the primary of the transformer can be switched off.

And if you want to switch high voltages then the High voltage relays can set you back
for more than 50us$ .

Another idea is to use three general purpose relays with a contact rating of
440VAC (with approximately 6 cantacts in series) DIPPED IN TRANSFORMER OIL.

PLEASE CHECK THE FLAMEILITY OF THE INSULATING OIL .

Re: 12KV Switch

I hope SAFETY is your primary concern.

I work for a power utilility, most of our system operates at 25 kV but we have some 12 kV. Everyone uses high Voltage rubber gloves (tested every 6 weeks) to work on powerline (even when deenergized and grounded). I would suggest you wear high Voltage gloves and ground your circuit when it's deenergized, stray capacitance or inductance of your circuit could be deadly.

Interrupting current is a problem at high Voltages. The most common switch is a manual switch called a cut-out. It tackles the problem with geometry, but can flash over if load current is heavy. In heavier loading situations, the switches either operate under mineral oil, in a vacuum, or under SF6 gas to help extinguish the arc. All of the switches are spring loaded so that they open quickly to outrun the arc. No one stands close to a switch to operate it. The manually operated switches are operated using switch sticks (10 ft or more in length) or are operated from the ground.

Personally, I would not attempt what you're doing. I do not suggest you operate your CIRCUIT without someone near.

12KV Switch

Thank for your Help
but i need to change the way of the arc without Cuting the power to the Primary

the Manual Switch cannot be used in my board
because it must work in a High Pressure Room.

Re: 12KV Switch

Hello all.
In fact I don't know how yet how dangerous your stuff is...
Because in principle what is dangerous is the current and the time of exposition than the voltage.
If it is a 12KV high voltage generator that can give only 10uA I would say that the generator itself wouldn't be dangerous. On the other hand the capacitances and also transmission lines that could be charged with this voltage could be dangerous.
Values are something like those (depend also on body condition):
1mA - hard disturbance.
4mA - loose conciousneess.
10mA - heart fibrilation, death.

For the switch problem, it would be interesting to know the speed you are working.
There are switchs that can work in such conditions with speed going down to 10 ns. Of course those switchs could surelly be controlled by a microprocessor directly or (most probably) indirectly.

The 2 possibilities I see would be to use:
1- thyratrons (tube)
2 - GTO, IGCT, IGBT, or MOSFET (solid state).

I would propose that you design a solid state switch using the 2nd option, IGBT or MOSFET.
You can easily find very fast high voltage IGBTs or MOSFETs in the market with breakdown voltages going to more than 1200V for single components. There are also combined swithes with breakdown voltages in excess of more than 6.5KV.
OF course you would need to chain a number of switches to get to the desired voltage.

Some simulation will be needed. Also some experiments to see how much parasitic inductance, etc you have. Surely some components would die before you get the final design.....

In my opinion the best alternative would probably be to put abot 13 or 14 cheep IGBTs in series up to your voltage. The internal diodes would help but I believe you would also need some external diodes to handel the parasitic inductances, etc...

Take a look in the attached datasheet to see if it matches your problem (1400V, 70A, IGBT).

Greetings to all.
S.

Re: 12KV Switch

If your application is low power and you can use a High voltage relay.

https://www.gigavac.com

https://www.crydom.co.uk/Webpages/high_voltage_relay_selector.htm