Energy flow in a pulsed-power conditioning system for high-power microwave applications

The energy efficiency of a pulsed-power conditioning system is examined. The system under study converts a relatively slow high-current impulse to a fast high-voltage impulse. The operative parts of the system are an inductive energy storage coil in series with an electrically exploded opening switch (wire fuse). In parallel to the fuse, a closing switch (spark gap) and the load are placed in series. The energy efficiency is measured as the quotient between the energy dissipated in the load and the energy in the storage inductor at the instant of operation of the fuse switch. In such a power conditioning system the main energy consumer is the wire fuse. The analysis is accompanied with electric equivalent circuit simulations.