Title :
80 kW, 1/3 Hz repetitive-fire PFN electrothermal launchers
Author :
Bhasavanich, D. ; Gilman, C.M. ; Hammon, H.G. ; Nielsen, K.
Author_Institution :
Phys. Int. Co., San Leandro, CA, USA
Abstract :
A modular PFN storing 1/4 MJ at 16 kV has been operated to 1/3 Hz into an electrothermal-chemical gun-like dummy load. Repetition rate performance of the critical PFN components was validated: (1) low prefire rate and good blocking performance for the triggered vacuum gaps as output switches; (2) low loss, shielded inductors at energy density near 10 J/cc, with vastly reduced external magnetic fields; (3) thermal limitations of the 2.5 J/cc metalized electrode, PVDF dielectric capacitors; and (4) noise-immune performance of the computer-based command, control and diagnostics system. The PFN module accumulated over 1600 full energy shots. Superb rep-fire repeatability was indicated with a standard deviation for the output energy of less than /spl plusmn/0.25%.
Keywords :
electrothermal launchers; power capacitors; power supplies to apparatus; pulse generators; pulsed power switches; vacuum switches; 0.25 MJ; 0.33 Hz; 16 kV; 80 kW; PVDF dielectric capacitors; blocking performance; electrothermal launchers; electrothermal-chemical gun; energy density; external magnetic field; full energy shots; metalized electrode; noise-immune performance; output switches; prefire rate; pulse forming network; rep-fire repeatability; repetition rate performance; repetitive-firing; thermal limitations; triggered vacuum gaps; Dielectric losses; Electrodes; Electrothermal launching; Elementary particle vacuum; Inductors; Magnetic shielding; Magnetic switching; Performance loss; Switches; Vacuum systems;
Conference_Titel :
Pulsed Power Conference, 1995. Digest of Technical Papers., Tenth IEEE International
Conference_Location :
Albuquerque, NM, USA
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-2791-8
DOI :
10.1109/PPC.1995.596473
