Advanced Development of Electrical Energy Storage Components for High Reliability Applications
Abstract
Evolving power conditioning system requirements in the areas of magnetic confinement fusion, inertial confinement fusion, molecular laser isotope separation, particle beam technology, radar, communications, and medical electronics will place severe demands upon repetitive pulse-power system components. Currently, a principal pacing system component in high reliability repetitive pulse power technology is the energy storage capacitor. Limited resources are being focused on understanding the physical and technological problems associated with extending lifetimes, reliabilities and energy densities of repetitive, high energy density pulse discharge capacitors. Eurst mode engineering development efforts in industry have produced highly refined, reliable capacitors for specific applications. The scope of these efforts, however, have not permitted the extensive R&D necessary to generate a comprehensive data base that encompasses the anticipated broad spectrum of operational requirements for continuous duty, repetitively operated pulse discharge capacitors. The present knowledge base on power capacitors consists of recent burst mode data plus a detailed macroscopic engineering data base on the capabilities and limitations of 60-Hz power factor correction and single-shot pulse discharge applications, created over the past 70 years by the capacitor manufacturing industry. Burst mode data from industry1,2, and multi-kilohertz testing activities at Los Alamos3 have shown that this highly refined lifetime and reliability data do not necessarily scale to repetitive operation. Development projects may take 2 to 5 years to complete so efforts should begin now to acquire the capabilities necessary for the design and fabrication of the repetitive power capacitors that will be needed in future technologies.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1981
- Accession Number
- ADA638009
Entities
People
- G. H. Mauldin
- K. J. Bickford
- W. J. Sarjeant
Organizations
- Los Alamos National Laboratory