Effects of plasma surface layers on the efficiency of plasma flow switching

Author

Bowers, R.L. ; Brownell, J.H. ; Greene, A.E. ; Peterson, D.L. ; Roderick, N.F. ; Turchi, P.J.

Author_Institution

Los Alamos Nat. Lab., NM, USA

Volume

26

Issue

5

fYear

1998

fDate

10/1/1998 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1420

Lastpage

1436

Abstract

The plasma flow switch is a possible fast opening-switch for Z-pinches on inductive-store pulsed-power machines. This paper presents results of two-dimensional, radiation-magnetohydrodynamic models for a well-characterized plasma flow switch operating into a load region at current levels of 5-6 MA. The calculations predict that motion of the switch plasma along coaxial electrodes leads to the formation along the inner electrode of a boundary layer that can interfere with switching. The simulations describe the effect of the boundary layer on switching and show that it may be removed by means of a boundary-layer trap. Predictive calculations were used to eliminate the effects of the boundary layer and led to an improvement in the switch´s performance. Comparison with experiments lends credence to the model

Keywords

Z pinch; plasma boundary layers; plasma magnetohydrodynamics; plasma simulation; plasma switches; pulsed power switches; 5 to 6 MA; Z-pinches; boundary layer; coaxial electrodes; fast opening-switch; inductive-store pulsed-power machines; inner electrode; plasma flow switching; plasma surface layers; predictive calculations; simulations; two-dimensional radiation-magnetohydrodynamic models; Coaxial components; Computational modeling; Electrodes; Laboratories; Magnetic switching; Magnetohydrodynamic power generation; Plasma simulation; Plasma sources; Pulse power systems; Switches;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0093-3813

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/27.736030

Filename

736030