Lifetime of insulator used for multi-gap gas switch

This paper summarizes an experimental study on lifetime of the insulator used for multi-gap gas switch. The mechanism of the insulator lifetime being reduced because of pollution is analyzed. The distribution of static electric field on insulator surface is simulated. The change of self-breakdown voltage and surface resistance due to pollution is experimentally obtained. After 13 000 shots under the discharge current of 32 kA， the self-breakdown voltage reduces from 171.5 to 130.8 kV and the surface resistance reduces from 200 to 22.6 G， which means the insulator can not operate normally. The measures for prolonging lifetime of the insulator are put forward.