TY - GEN
T1 - Optimizing power conditioning components for a flux compression generator using a non-explosive testing system
AU - Davis, C.
AU - Neuber, A.
AU - Young, A.
AU - Walter, J.
AU - Dickens, J.
AU - Kristiansen, M.
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - This paper discusses a non-explosive pulsed power device used to reproduce the output waveforms of a Flux Compression Generator (FCG) driving a High Power Microwave (HPM) source. This system optimizes the power conditioning components of a HPM source while reducing the time and resources inherent to explosively driven FCG schemes. An energy storage inductor, fuse opening switch, and a peaking gap make up the power conditioning system. This system couples large voltage pulses (~300 kV), suited for HPM sources, to the load by disrupting the energy storage inductor current (~40 kA). This paper will show that an optimal fuse length was experimentally searched for by varying the calculated fuse wire base length by ±5, 10, and 15%. Various geometric fuse designs were examined to achieve a 45% reduction in the physical fuse length at constant wire length with acceptable performance losses. This paper will also show that the distance between the electrodes of a peaking gap can be optimized to more efficiently switch in the load. Finally results will be shown that depict the amount of microwave power produced by a vircator before fuse and peaking gap optimization.
AB - This paper discusses a non-explosive pulsed power device used to reproduce the output waveforms of a Flux Compression Generator (FCG) driving a High Power Microwave (HPM) source. This system optimizes the power conditioning components of a HPM source while reducing the time and resources inherent to explosively driven FCG schemes. An energy storage inductor, fuse opening switch, and a peaking gap make up the power conditioning system. This system couples large voltage pulses (~300 kV), suited for HPM sources, to the load by disrupting the energy storage inductor current (~40 kA). This paper will show that an optimal fuse length was experimentally searched for by varying the calculated fuse wire base length by ±5, 10, and 15%. Various geometric fuse designs were examined to achieve a 45% reduction in the physical fuse length at constant wire length with acceptable performance losses. This paper will also show that the distance between the electrodes of a peaking gap can be optimized to more efficiently switch in the load. Finally results will be shown that depict the amount of microwave power produced by a vircator before fuse and peaking gap optimization.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77949955102&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1109/PPC.2009.5386110
DO - 10.1109/PPC.2009.5386110
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:77949955102
SN - 9781424440658
T3 - PPC2009 - 17th IEEE International Pulsed Power Conference
SP - 951
EP - 955
BT - PPC2009 - 17th IEEE International Pulsed Power Conference
T2 - 17th IEEE International Pulsed Power Conference, PPC2009
Y2 - 28 June 2009 through 2 July 2009
ER -