ENERGY CONTROL FOR MICROWAVE AMPLIFIER ARRAYS.
Abstract
In large systems using microwave amplifier arrays, the size, weight, and cost of individual energy sources require consideration of the use of a common power supply and energy storage bank. Complex energy control techniques may be necessary to protect the rf amplifier and to provide isolation of the faulted amplifier from the common energy source to prevent voltage variations on the remainder of the system. Two approaches using available components may be used. The first uses multiple energy diverters, one to protect the rf tube, the other to blow a fuse if isolation from the common energy source is required. The 'on-time' of this system is dependent on: (1) the reliability of the microwave amplifier; (2) the ability of the plasma-injection vacuum energy diverter to extinguish reliably and thereby limit the number of fuse replacements; and (3) the reliability of the fuse to blow almost instantaneously from a high surge current and prevent large voltage changes on the other amplifier tubes. The second approach uses a vacuum tube isolator, which eliminates the latter two of these requirements. In this case the energy diverter does not need to be extinguished by special circuit design. The vacuum tube isolates the circuit each time the energy diverter is fired. Additional circuit complexity and higher power supply voltages are required because of the relatively high tube drop of presently available power tubes. However, the power requirement for the system can be decreased, voltage regulation can be improved, and large decreases in the size of the secondary capacitance bank can be obtained. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0664150
Entities
People
- George W. Taylor
- Sol Schneider
Organizations
- United States Army Communications-Electronics Command