A Summary of Experimental Results from Inductive Store Pulse Compression Experiments with Plasma Opening Switches on the Pulse Power Generators Pollux and KALIF

Experimental results from inductive store pulse compression experiments with plasma opening switches are presented. The experiments have been performed on the high-power pulse generators Pollux and KALIF operating at nominal powers of 0.1 and 1.5 TW, respectively. A large range of switch geometries, currents, voltages, and magnetic fields have been investigated. Diode loads with falling and rising impedance characteristics have been applied. A peak-power multiplication of 2 has been demonstrated in the Pollux experiments. The power multiplication in the present experiments was limited by the lack of magnetic insulation in the switch and adjacent feed section at higher load impedances. The limitations were much more severe than predicted by laminar flow theories of magnetic insulation. Generally, magnetic insulation was superior, with diode loads having rising impedance characteristics.     

Pseudospark switches-technological aspects and application

We report results of the development of fast closing switches, so-called pseudospark switches, at Erlangen University. Two different parameter regimes are under investigation: medium power switches (32 kV anode voltage, 30 kA anode current and 0.02 C charge transfer per shot) for pulsed gas discharge lasers and high power switches (30 kV anode voltage, 400 kA anode current and 3.4 C charge transfer per shot) for high current applications. The lifetime of these switches is determined by erosion of the cathode. The total charge transfer of devices with one discharge channel is about 220 kC for the medium and 27 kC for the high power switch. At currents exceeding 45 kA a sudden increase in erosion rate was observed. Multichannel devices are suited to increase lifetime as the current per channel can be reduced. Successful experiments with radial and coaxial arrangements of the discharge channels were performed. In these systems the discharge channels move due to magnetic forces. A skilful use of this phenomena will result in a considerably increase of switch lifetime. Multigap devices enable an increase of anode voltage. A three gap switch has run reliably at an anode voltage of 70 kV     

等离子体断路开关和电感负载间的功率流特性

利用PIC (particle-in-cell) 方法,结合实验装置的几何结构和实验结果,采用动态开关模型,对微秒等离子体断路开关和电感负载间的功率流特性进行了研究。模拟得到了与实验结果符合较好的开关电压和负载电流波形,并给出了开关下游出现的稀薄等离子体的密度(约1012 cm-3)和速度(约1 cm/ns), 同时也得到了开关下游的空间电流分布。模拟结果表明,开关下游的结构应避免阻抗突变以减少电流损失,同时提高开关阻抗可有利于提高负载上的最大功率。     

等离子体断路开关和电感负载间的功率流特性

利用PIC (particle-in-cell) 方法,结合实验装置的几何结构和实验结果,采用动态开关模型,对微秒等离子体断路开关和电感负载间的功率流特性进行了研究。模拟得到了与实验结果符合较好的开关电压和负载电流波形,并给出了开关下游出现的稀薄等离子体的密度(约1012 cm-3)和速度(约1 cm/ns), 同时也得到了开关下游的空间电流分布。模拟结果表明,开关下游的结构应避免阻抗突变以减少电流损失,同时提高开关阻抗可有利于提高负载上的最大功率。     

Compact pulsed power generator using an inductive energy storagesystem with two-staged opening switches

The pulsed power generator, named ASO-I, is extremely compact and light in comparison with a conventional pulsed power generator, which consists of a Marx bank and a water pulse forming line. The ASO-I has a two-staged opening switch, consisting of fuses in water and a plasma erosion opening switch, and can be operated hundreds of times a day at an output power of 230 kV and 35 kA. The parallel fuses are effective for power multiplication, and small differences in length of the parallel fuses do not influence the output power. The risetime of current through the short-circuit load decreases with the increase of the gap length of the spark gap, which is placed between the fuses and the load. The plasma erosion opening switch can be operated as a second opening switch, and the risetime of the current through the short-circuit load decreases from 250 to 10 ns. The maximum resistance of the plasma erosion opening switch is 3.5 Ω with an open-circuit load     

爆磁压缩发生器与高阻抗负载匹配调制电路

通过对以电容器替代爆磁压缩发生器的系统等效电路进行理论分析,对影响这种调制电路性能的关键问题及其解决方法进行了讨论。根据理论分析结果对调制电路进行了设计。在初步实验中,当用于去除电爆炸丝上附加电压的撬断开关保持断开时,变压器原边电流切断不彻底,电容负载上充电电压峰值为-264 kV;保持其他电路参数不变,而使撬断开关在电爆炸断路开关断开过程中闭合时,变压器原边电流切断彻底,在相同负载上充电电压峰值为-374 kV。实验结果验证了理论分析结果,并证明了采用这种调制电路能够实现爆磁压缩发生器与高阻抗负载匹配。     

爆磁压缩发生器与高阻抗负载匹配调制电路

通过对以电容器替代爆磁压缩发生器的系统等效电路进行理论分析,对影响这种调制电路性能的关键问题及其解决方法进行了讨论。根据理论分析结果对调制电路进行了设计。在初步实验中,当用于去除电爆炸丝上附加电压的撬断开关保持断开时,变压器原边电流切断不彻底,电容负载上充电电压峰值为-264 kV;保持其他电路参数不变,而使撬断开关在电爆炸断路开关断开过程中闭合时,变压器原边电流切断彻底,在相同负载上充电电压峰值为-374 kV。实验结果验证了理论分析结果,并证明了采用这种调制电路能够实现爆磁压缩发生器与高阻抗负载匹配。     

Pulsed Power Opening Switch Research at the University of New Mexico

Opening switch research at the University of New Mexico (UNM) is directed toward moderate-current (~10 kA) devices with potential applications to high-power charged particle accelerators. Two devices with the capacity for controlling gigawatt high-voltage circuits, the grid-controlled plasma flow switch and the scanned-beam switch, are under investigation. Both switches are conceptually simple; they involve little collective physics and are within the capabilities of current technology. In the plasma flow switch, the flux of electrons into a high-voltage power gap is controlled by a low-voltage control grid. Plasma generation is external to, and independent of, the power circuit. In the closed phase, plasma fills the gap so that the switch has a low on-state impedance. Pulse repetition rates in the megahertz range should be feasible. In single-shot proof-of-principle experiments, a small area switch modulated a 3-MW circuit; a 20-ns opening time was observed. The scanned-beam switch will utilize electric field deflection to direct the power of a sheet electron beam. The beam is to be alternately scanned to two inverse diodes connected to output transmission lines. The switch is expected to generate continuous-wave pulse trains for applications such as high-frequency induction linacs. Theoretical studies indicate that 10-GW devices in the 100-MHz range with 70-percent efficiency should be technologically feasible.     

The Jon Beam Opening Switch

Plasma opening switches (POS's) have shown excellent characteristics in pulsed power applications. Proposed POS scaling predicts that the fastest opening time for a given conducted current should occur using a high-velocity low-density plasma as the switch medium. The ion beam opening switch (IBOS) uses a charge-neutral ion beam of 100-300 kV, ? 120 A/cm2 as the switch "plasma." Its velocity of up to 600 cm/?s and density of ~1012/cm3 make this a very fast low-density plasma compared with typical 10 cm/?s and 1013/cm3 POS plasmas. The IBOS has conducted ? 70 kA flowing in a parallel-plate transmission line driven by a 4-? pulser. IBOS opening time is load dependent, being ? 4 ns into a 15-nH load and about twice as long into a 4-? electron diode load. However, switch impedance is not zero during the entire conduction time, rising to ? 3 ? by the time of peak current. Peak current conducted before opening does not vary linearly with either injected ion current or switch axial length. Instead, the conduction current scales with plasma density in the switch, and is nearly independent of switch area until the area is restricted to a narrow (~1 cm) strip.     

Photoconductive semiconductor switches

Optically activated GaAs switches operated in their high-gain mode are being used or tested for pulsed power applications as diverse as low-impedance, high-current firing sets in munitions; high impedance, low-current Pockels cell or Q-switch drivers for lasers; high-voltage drivers for laser diode arrays; high-voltage, high-current, compact accelerators; and pulsers for ground penetrating radar. This paper will describe the properties of high-gain photoconductive semiconductor switches (PCSS), and how they are used in a variety of pulsed power applications. For firing sets, we have switched up to 7 kA in a very compact package. For driving Q switches, the load is the small (30 pF) capacitance of the Q switch which is charged to 6 kV. We have demonstrated that we can modulate a laser beam with a subnanosecond rise time. Using PCSS, we have demonstrated gain switching a series-connected laser diode array, obtaining an optical output with a peak power of 50 kW and a pulse duration of 100 ps. For accelerators, we are using PCSS to switch a 260 kV, 60 kA Blumlein. A pulser suitable for use in ground-penetrating radar has been demonstrated at 100 kV, 1.3 kA. This paper will describe the specific project requirements and switch parameters in all of these applications, and emphasize the switch research and development that is being pursued to address the important issues     

大电流两电极气体开关研究

由于引燃管难以满足现在能源系统对放电开关承受大电流的要求,因此研制了大电荷转移量两电极气体开关。这种新型气体开关电极间距可调,无触发极,采用同轴结构,并将主电极置于金属腔体内,减少了放电对绝缘支撑的污染。主电极为铜钨合金材料,设计为平顶圆柱状,以提高烧蚀均匀度和热传导效率,减少电极材料喷溅,延长其寿命。绝缘支撑采用碗状结构,提高了机械强度,增加了沿面击穿距离。该开关工作电压达25 kV,放电电流超过100 kA（脉冲宽度600 μs）,单次脉冲电荷转移量达50 C。实验结果显示该气体开关触发性能稳定,电极表面烧蚀均匀,多次大电流实验后电极表面保持完好,可应用于强激光能源系统。     

驱动X光二极管的级联Blumlein型脉冲网络过电压脉冲分析

为了提高装置容许的运行电压以提高辐射剂量产额, 开展了放电过程中影响脉冲形成网络过电压幅值因素的研究。在引入开关导通不同步性和导通电阻条件下, 建立了适用于任意电阻性负载的级联Blumlein型脉冲形成网络电压波过程理论模型, 基于波过程模型进一步分析了影响脉冲形成网络过电压幅值的因素。研究表明开关不同步是产生过电压的主要因素, 过电压峰值出现在开关闭合后的3倍形成网络电长度时刻。随着网络级联级数的增加, 二极管阻抗与源阻抗匹配情况下最大过电压可达到-2倍充电电压, 而二极管阻抗下降使得过电压幅值得以加强, 阻抗过早崩溃可使过电压幅值接近充电电压的-3倍。     

LTD模块气体开关电极材料烧蚀性能实验

针对直线变压器驱动源(LTD)对开关的长寿命需求,基于前期研制的200kV低抖动多间隙气体开关电极几何参数以及开关通流水平,详细开展了不同电极材料(钼、黄铜、铜钨合金、高密度石墨、304和321不锈钢)的烧蚀性能实验。实验结果表明,在单次电荷转移量15.4mC,脉冲电流20kA条件下,体积烧蚀速率从大到小依次为:石墨、黄铜、铜钨合金、钼、不锈钢。电极烧蚀微观形貌分析表明,不锈钢是用于LTD开关相对较好的电极材料。根据不锈钢电极的体积烧蚀速率,可知理论上LTD开关的运行寿命可以超过1×106次,但前提是开关外壳需保持足够的绝缘强度。     

LTD模块气体开关电极材料烧蚀性能实验

针对直线变压器驱动源（LTD）对开关的长寿命需求,基于前期研制的200 kV低抖动多间隙气体开关电极几何参数以及开关通流水平,详细开展了不同电极材料（钼、黄铜、铜钨合金、高密度石墨、304和321不锈钢 ）的烧蚀性能实验。实验结果表明,在单次电荷转移量15.4 mC,脉冲电流20 kA条件下,体积烧蚀速率从大到小依次为：石墨、黄铜、铜钨合金、钼、不锈钢。电极烧蚀微观形貌分析表明,不锈钢是用于LTD开关相对较好的电极材料。根据不锈钢电极的体积烧蚀速率,可知理论上LTD开关的运行寿命可以超过1106次,但前提是开关外壳需保持足够的绝缘强度。     

驱动X光二极管的级联Blumlein型脉冲网络过电压脉冲分析

为了提高装置容许的运行电压以提高辐射剂量产额,开展了放电过程中影响脉冲形成网络过电压幅值因素的研究。在引入开关导通不同步性和导通电阻条件下,建立了适用于任意电阻性负载的级联Blumlein型脉冲形成网络电压波过程理论模型,基于波过程模型进一步分析了影响脉冲形成网络过电压幅值的因素。研究表明开关不同步是产生过电压的主要因素,过电压峰值出现在开关闭合后的3倍形成网络电长度时刻。随着网络级联级数的增加,二极管阻抗与源阻抗匹配情况下最大过电压可达到-2倍充电电压,而二极管阻抗下降使得过电压幅值得以加强,阻抗过早崩溃可使过电压幅值接近充电电压的-3倍。     

The Application of a Plasma Erosion Opening Switch to a Nanosecond Generator at the Power Level of 1010 W

This paper is devoted to experimental studies of a short-pulse (80 ns) inductive system with a coaxial plasma erosion opening switch (PEOS), operating at the 2-5 × 1010 W level. Scalings of the PEOS and ion diode characteristics with different parameters (PEOS plasma density and velocity, PEOS electrode geometry, load impedance, type and strength of an external magnetic field) were carried out. It was seen that for the most efficient energy and power switching to the load by the PEOS, the following conditions are preferable: high velocity and low density of the plasma flow, negative polarity of the inner PEOS electrode, coincidence of the switch current and injected plasma flow directions, the absence of an external magnetic field, and the presence of an additional self-field in the PEOS region. Power enhancement of a factor of 3 and pulse shortening by a factor of 2 were obtained under optimal conditions.     

高库仑量大电流两电极气体火花开关研究

 设计了一个两电极气体火花开关，开关的主体部分仅包括阴极、阳极两个主电极，以及金属外壳和绝缘支撑外壳，两电极结构取消了触发极，消除了由于触发极烧蚀影响开关寿命的问题。开关设计工作电压23 kV，单脉冲能量1.2 MJ，峰值电流300 kA，单次脉冲电荷转移量110 C。初步试验阶段开关工作电压达到15 kV，开关的通流180 kA，电荷转移量为47.85 C。开关触发性能可靠，电极烧蚀均匀。     

高库仑量大电流两电极气体火花开关研究

设计了一个两电极气体火花开关,开关的主体部分仅包括阴极、阳极两个主电极,以及金属外壳和绝缘支撑外壳,两电极结构取消了触发极,消除了由于触发极烧蚀影响开关寿命的问题。开关设计工作电压23 kV,单脉冲能量1.2 MJ,峰值电流300 kA,单次脉冲电荷转移量110 C。初步试验阶段开关工作电压达到15 kV,开关的通流180 kA,电荷转移量为47.85 C。开关触发性能可靠,电极烧蚀均匀。     

用于等离子体焦点装置的强流装置

研制了用于稠密等离子体焦点的强流装置,该装置采用八台低电感低内阻脉冲电容器和八个低感大电流、可控触发高压开关并联组成初级储能模块,高压开关同步击穿后产生μs级强电流经平行板传输线加载到负载。脉冲电容器和高压开关采用一体化设计,结构紧凑,使脉冲电容器与高压开关间的连接电感尽可能小;平板传输线为扇形结构,一个扇形平板传输线连接一个高压开关,平行板传输线可以将电感做得较小,有利于大电流回路的传输。在脉冲电容器充电20 kV时,假负载上可以得到500 kA的电流,电流上升时间约为3.7 μs。     

大电流两电极气体开关研究

 由于引燃管难以满足现在能源系统对放电开关承受大电流的要求,因此研制了大电荷转移量两电极气体开关。这种新型气体开关电极间距可调,无触发极,采用同轴结构,并将主电极置于金属腔体内,减少了放电对绝缘支撑的污染。主电极为铜钨合金材料,设计为平顶圆柱状,以提高烧蚀均匀度和热传导效率,减少电极材料喷溅,延长其寿命。绝缘支撑采用碗状结构,提高了机械强度,增加了沿面击穿距离。该开关工作电压达25 kV,放电电流超过100 kA（脉冲宽度600 μs）,单次脉冲电荷转移量达50 C。实验结果显示该气体开关触发性能稳定,电极表面烧蚀均匀,多次大电流实验后电极表面保持完好,可应用于强激光能源系统。