High recovery voltage switch for interruption of large currents

An opening switch for interrupting 50‐KA currents in inertial–inductive storage systems has been developed. A switch arc voltage of 2 kV (3.3 kV/cm) has been obtained using explosive cutting of the current‐carrying sheet. A single‐gap switch interrupts a current of 7 kA per cm of sheet width in ∼10 μs. Recovery fields of up to 100 kV/cm were achieved at 2 kA/cm, at 35 μs after interruption. The switch is designed for long (∼1 s) current‐carrying time associated with homopolar generator charging of inductors.