ABSTRACT
Electrically exploded foil (EEF) has been previously used to sharpen current pulses generated by relatively slow discharging energy storage 360capacitors. They are operated as opening switches to generate fast rising voltage/current pulses in loads connected across them. Magnitude of voltage/current pulse in load and its rise-time is greatly influenced by the performance of EEF acting as opening switches. Parameters such as cross- sectional area of EEF, its constituent material and quenching medium surrounding it play a major role in deciding its performance. In the present work, EEF has been placed in two gaseous quenching medium, i.e., dry air and N2. Keeping circuit parameters fixed geometrical parameters of EEF as also the gaseous quenching medium and the pressure at which gas is filled in experimental chamber has been varied. Effects on parameters such as peak load current, time of burst, switch current and peak switch voltage of switch have been studied and several inferences have been derived.
