Gas-Filled Plasma Closing Switches for the Next Generation of Pulsed Power Without SF6

The High Voltage Technologies Research Group of the Department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering, University of Strathclyde, is offering an exciting opportunity to join the HVT Group as a PhD student and to undertake a PhD research project in the field of high voltage pulsed power engineering. This fully-funded iCASE 4-year PhD programme will be conducted in collaboration with First Light Fusion, a leading inertial fusion company.  

The proposed PhD programme will focus on the development and experimental investigation of plasma closing switch topologies filled with environmentally friendly gases. Elimination of SF₆, which is a strong greenhouse gas, from high voltage pulsed power systems and machines is a major task in the field of gaseous insulation.

The research programme will be aimed at the characterisation of the breakdown behaviour of different gases and gas-solid interfaces under high rates-of-change of electrical field conditions: the PhD candidate will conduct an experimental investigation of the breakdown properties of gases and gas-solid interfaces stressed with voltages up to several 100s kV. It is envisaged that this research will lead to the establishment of criteria for the selection of environmentally friendly gases and solid dielectrics (polymers) for use in plasma closing switches for novel pulsed power machines. This project will involve the PhD student working closely with the HVT group and wider departmental colleagues.

The Department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering of the University of Strathclyde hosts over several hundred researchers in state-of-the-art facilities, including the High Voltage Technologies Research (HVT) Group. The HVT Group is an internationally recognised high voltage and pulsed power centre and the group is involved in a significant number of industrial partnerships and programmes. The HVT research group operates specialist High Voltage and Pulsed Power technology laboratory facilities and specialises in high voltage and pulsed power systems and technologies. Fast-paced developments are underway in research into pulsed power technologies and systems for different practical applications and the HVT Research Group at the University of Strathclyde has accumulated significant experience and expertise in this area.