Transmission Line Code Modeling of the Plasma Flow Switch
Abstract
The plasma flow switch (PFS) utilizes the motion of a high density plasma discharge to accumulate and then release magnetic energy at multi-megampere, multi-megajoule levels. Energy input to a coaxial plasma gun occurs in several microseconds as the annular plasma discharge is accelerated axially along the center conductor. Energy is released to a load in a few hundred nanoseconds as this plasma is expelled off the end of the center conductor. Low density plasma upstream of the axially-moving discharge can limit the flow of electromagnetic power to speeds related to the local Alfven speed. The wave transit time between the load and the magnetic energy store can compare with the desired energy extraction time. The effects of finite wave speed have been investigated using approximate acoustic analyses. The present paper utilizes a transmission line code with varying time and impedance elements to model wave transit effects during PFS operation including commutation and load dynamics.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1985
- Accession Number
- ADA636218
Entities
People
- D. Conte
- J. D. Shipman Jr.
- P. J. Turchi
- Paul F. Ottinger
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory