ENERGY AMPLIFICATION

[SeaMonkey]

...

Did not Tesla also use a magnetically quenched spark gap (with disruptive discharge) for harnessing radiant energy?
...

During Tesla's time there weren't many ways to
switch electrical current efficiently; especially
high voltage/high current.  The spark gap and
disruptive discharge was the only practical way
for most experimenters.

The problem with the spark gap is that it is very
difficult to control the time duration of the
disruptive discharge once the gap ionizes and
without some sort of control the discharge tends
to be too long to be efficient for driving RF circuits.
The Pulse Width of the discharge isn't sufficiently
short so much power is wasted.

It was discovered that a magnetic field would "quench"
the discharge agross the gap almost as soon as the
conductive ionized path developed.  This resulted in a
very short discharge time duration which was far more
efficient in driving RF circuits - not nearly as much wasted
power.

Nowadays we are very fortunate to have a number of
electronic devices which are able to provide a controlled
disruptive discharge with very easily adjusted Pulse Width
in order to attain maximum efficiency.

If Tesla were alive today he'd not be using the spark gap
for his work.  Back in his day he had no other choice...

[crazyoldfart]

Well, if electrons are moving @ nearly a trillion feet per second. And we have musical chairs, their are one trillion applicants for 60 chairs. ( all off the shelf items are 60 hertz)don't we have a surplus that is not being utilized?

[forest]

During Tesla's time there weren't many ways to
switch electrical current efficiently; especially
high voltage/high current.  The spark gap and
disruptive discharge was the only practical way
for most experimenters.

The problem with the spark gap is that it is very
difficult to control the time duration of the
disruptive discharge once the gap ionizes and
without some sort of control the discharge tends
to be too long to be efficient for driving RF circuits.
The Pulse Width of the discharge isn't sufficiently
short so much power is wasted.

It was discovered that a magnetic field would "quench"
the discharge agross the gap almost as soon as the
conductive ionized path developed.  This resulted in a
very short discharge time duration which was far more
efficient in driving RF circuits - not nearly as much wasted
power.

Nowadays we are very fortunate to have a number of
electronic devices which are able to provide a controlled
disruptive discharge with very easily adjusted Pulse Width
in order to attain maximum efficiency.

If Tesla were alive today he'd not be using the spark gap
for his work.  Back in his day he had no other choice...

Are you sure ? I can't find any electronic part able to switch high current at high voltage. For useful purpose I would like to switch 1000V at 10A and  no transistor can do it. Sure at 400V it can be made but it is not considered high voltage. Isn't that the reason why Ismael Aviso asked to produce special kind of IGBT for his device ? The only way is to use vacuum tubes but such high power tubes are rare and restricted to millitary usage....

[kEhYo77]

@ Forest.


There is plenty of HV IGBT transistors rated 1200V 30A. It is not a problem here.
You can also link them in series to increase the maximum voltage handling to be able to switch 6000V for instance.

[energia9]

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