Poly-$alpha$Olefin Synthetic Oil: A New Paradigm in Repetitive High-Pressure Oil Switches

A high-pressure oil switch for high-energy systems has been developed and tested to repetition rates up to 100 pps in burst mode and test voltages to -300 kV. The switch utilizes high-pressure flowing synthetic oil and advanced mechanical designs to achieve high-performance operation at pressures to 17.24 MPa (2500 psi). Experimental data is presented for both single-shot performance as well as continuous repetition rate performance to 20 pps. Electrode lifetime is evaluated for stainless steel and Elkonite to demonstrate electrode lifetime. Evidence is presented in support of the dependence of switching performance on the geometry of the switch