4 ms·
Experiments with a Hydrogen Thyratron
- rwmj 8y agohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thyratron https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thyratron in case anyone was wondering.
- jacobush 8y agoMy first thought was - won't the hydrogen escape?! Hydrogen molecules are tiny and will leak out from just about anything. Then I read that there is a reservoir where the hydrogen is stored, chemically I think. But still, as the tube is operated, won't it be slowly depleted of hydrogen?! Very interesting.
- ams6110 8y agoSame thought, and my guess is that the gaseous hydrogen does escape slowly. But perhaps there is enough excess stored in the TiH₂ to give the tube a useful lifespan.
- crazydoggers 8y ago“Hydrogen thyratron typically utilizes titanium hydride in it’s reservoir and the hydrogen gas is released when the reservoir is heated and recombined into titanium hydride when the temperature cools down.” I’m guessing there’s an excess of H in the titanium hydride, so even if some of it leaks out, it’ll be able to maintain operating pressure.
- trav4225 8y agoHmm, any risk of excessive x-ray production?
- CamperBob2 8y agoNot at the voltages he's running at. Any X-rays generated at voltages below about 20 kV will have a difficult time escaping from the tube's own envelope. 3.5 kV is right out.
- trav4225 8y agoAh, okay. I thought the danger zone was slightly lower. Thanks!