Applying a Compensated Pulsed Alternator to a Flashlamp Load for Nova

Abstract

The Compensated Pulsed Alternator (CPA) is a large rotating machine that will convert mechanical, rotationally stored energy into a single electrical impulse of very high power. It is being optimized for driving flashlamps in the very large Nova Nd:glass laser system. The machine is a rotary flux compression device, and for maximum performance, it requires start-up current. This circuit has been tested with a 200 kJ capacitor bank and it is now being tested with a small 200 k.J CPA. Large Nova-size machines will require output energies in excess of 5 MJ. We also present empirically tested formulae that will assist in matching the Nova flashlamp load to any given size CPA machine.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1979
Accession Number
ADA636896

Entities

People

  • B. M. Carder
  • B. T. Merritt

Organizations

  • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Alternators
  • California
  • Capacitors
  • Contracts
  • Current Density
  • Energy
  • Flash Lamps
  • Governments
  • Lamps
  • Power
  • Pulse Transformers
  • Pulsed Power
  • Resistance
  • United States
  • United States Government
  • Universities

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Optical Physics and Photonics.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy