High energy, low inductance, high current fiberglass energy storage capacitor for the Atlas Machine Marx modules

The Los Alamos National Laboratory\´s Atlas Marx design team envisioned a double ended plastic case 60 kV, 15 nH, 650 kA, energy storage capacitor. A design specification was established and submitted to various vendors. Maxwell Energy Products drew from its development of large fiberglass case, high voltage, low inductance "FASTCAP" capacitors manufactured for Maxwell Technologies\´ ACE II, ACE III and ACE IV machines. This paper discusses the LANL specification and Maxwell Energy Products\´ successful design, Model No. 39232, 34.1 /spl mu/F, 60 kV, 13/spl times/29/spl times/27", the only capacitor qualified by LANL for the 23 Mega Joule Atlas application. Maxwell\´s past experience in this type of capacitor is covered. The performance data is reviewed and the life test data compared to the original calculated design life. Challenges included Maxwell\´s "keep it simple" design goal which was maintained to minimize the effort required to create and manufacture a nearly 600 pound capacitor.