Operation of Multi-Megajoule Inertial-Inductive Pulser

Abstract

The homopolar generator at the Naval Research Laboratory can store up to 4 MJ in the inductor. It has operated at 3.0 MJ level as a source of pulsed energy generated by interrupting the current in the inductor. The magnetic energy has been transferred to resistive and inductive loads using several switching modes. Using an explosively-driven breaker which generates up to 15 kV arc, 40 ~sec commutation time to resistive load was achieved, with inductor-to-load efficiency of 95%. The addition of fuse switching stages was used to raise the commutation voltage to 200 kV. At this level, a current step-up transformer used as the generator load has been excited in short time ( 100 ~se c) to generate a 0.5 MA output into a 1 mO load. Fast opening switches in the high-current secondary of the transformer generate high voltage pulses to provide high power output typically associated with low impedance pulse lines. A current step-down transformer was also used to generate long duration ( 0 .2 sec) 10 kA pulses for testing of power line protection equipment .

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1981
Accession Number
ADA638150

Entities

People

  • D. Jenkins
  • I. M. Vitkovitsky
  • R. D. Ford
  • W. H. Lupton

Organizations

  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Circuit Breakers
  • Elements
  • Energy
  • Energy Storage
  • Energy Transfer
  • Generators
  • Impedance
  • Inductance
  • Military Research
  • Power
  • Resistance
  • Resistors
  • Short Circuits
  • Switches
  • Switching
  • Transformers
  • Voltage

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Electrical Engineering