Spark Gap Surge Protector With Laser Ignition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing overvoltage protection devices using high-energy laser pulses to ignite a spark gap require expensive, high-energy optical waveguides to prevent damage, making them costly.
Innovation Solution
A spark gap overvoltage protection system where the laser-active medium is located at the spark gap, and the pump source is separated by a transmission fiber, allowing for a simple and inexpensive optical waveguide that only transmits pump light, eliminating the need for high-energy laser radiation transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high-energy laser pulses are transmitted through an optical waveguide to ignite the spark gap, then the spark gap can be reliably ignited, but the optical waveguide is damaged due to high local intensity and becomes expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The laser system is segmented into two separate locations: the pump source remains at ground potential while the laser-active medium is positioned at the high-voltage platform near the spark gap. This segmentation allows the optical waveguide to only transmit pump light rather than high-energy laser pulses, reducing its energy load and cost requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The laser-active medium acts as an intermediary component that converts low-energy pump light into high-energy laser radiation directly at the spark gap location. This intermediary enables the optical waveguide to handle only low-energy pump light, avoiding the need for expensive high-energy waveguides.
2Power
If the pump source is arranged at the spark gap location, then high-energy laser radiation can be generated in place, but the pump source would be exposed to high-voltage potential and be difficult to supply with electrical energy
Solution Approach 1:
The laser system is divided into two spatially separated components: the pump source operates at ground potential where electrical energy can be easily supplied, while the laser-active medium is positioned at the high-voltage platform near the spark gap. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing each component to operate in its optimal electrical environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The direct electrical connection between the pump source and high-voltage platform is replaced by an optical transmission system. The pump source generates pump light that is transmitted through an optical waveguide to the laser-active medium, substituting electrical energy transmission with optical energy transmission across the high-voltage boundary.
3Ease of manufacture
If a simple and inexpensive optical waveguide is used, then cost is reduced, but high-energy laser radiation cannot be transmitted without damaging the waveguide
Solution Approach 1:
The laser radiation is generated directly at the spark gap location before the need for transmission arises. By converting pump light to laser radiation in-place at the high-voltage platform, the system eliminates the requirement to transmit high-energy laser radiation through the optical waveguide, allowing the use of simple and inexpensive waveguides that only handle low-energy pump light.
Solution Approach 2:
The high-energy laser radiation generation process is extracted from the ground potential location and moved to the high-voltage platform where the laser-active medium is positioned near the spark gap. This extraction removes the harmful high-energy radiation from the optical waveguide transmission path, allowing the use of inexpensive waveguides.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design reduces the energy loading on the optical waveguide, enabling the use of cost-effective components, ensuring reliable and safe ignition of the spark gap while maintaining galvanic isolation and allowing for flexible maintenance and adjustment.
Implementation Method 1
a laser for igniting the spark gap, wherein a laser-active medium of the laser is arranged at the spark gap to generate laser radiation
Implementation Method 2
the pump source and the laser-active medium are connected by means of a transmission fiber, in particular by means of an optical waveguide
Implementation Method 3
high-energy laser pulses (which are necessary to ignite the spark gap)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to a surge protector (200) comprising a spark gap (9) and a laser for ignition of the spark gap (9). The surge protector is characterized in that a laser-active medium (202) of the laser is arranged on the spark gap (9) to generate laser radiation (203). The pump source (14) of the laser is arranged in spaced relation to the laser-active medium (202).