Title :
Experimental and Theoretical Analyses of Explosively-Formed Fuse (EFF) Opening Switches
Author :
Tasker, Douglas G. ; Goforth, James H. ; Oona, Henn ; Kiuttu, Gerald ; Domonkos, Matthew
Author_Institution :
Los Alamos Nat. Lab., Los Alamos, NM
Abstract :
The EFF is used at Los Alamos as the primary opening switch for high current applications. It has interrupted currents from ~10 kA to 25 MA, thus diverting the current into low inductance loads. To understand and optimize the performance of full-scale experiments, many parameters were studied in a series of small-scale experiments, including: electrical conduction through the explosive products; current density; explosive initiation; insulator type; conductor thickness; conductor metal; metal temper; and on. The results show a marked inverse correlation of peak EFF resistance with current density. In this paper we postulate and refute a simple extrusion mechanism of EFF operation; demonstrate that the EFF switch has a near-ideal profile for producing flat-topped voltage profiles; and explore possible mechanisms for the degradation of small scale switch performance.
Keywords :
conductors (electric); current density; electric fuses; conductor metal; conductor thickness; current density; electrical conduction; explosive initiation; explosive products; explosively-formed fuse opening switches; extrusion mechanism; flat-topped voltage profiles; insulator type; metal temper; Conductors; Current density; Dielectrics and electrical insulation; Electric resistance; Explosives; Fuses; Inductance; Metal-insulator structures; Switches; Voltage;
Conference_Titel :
Megagauss magnetic field generation and related topics, 2006 ieee international conference on
Conference_Location :
Herlany
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4244-2061-2
Electronic_ISBN :
978-1-4244-2062-9
DOI :
10.1109/MEGAGUSS.2006.4530692
