High-voltage pulse generations by power conditioning of flux compression generators

To power a high impedance load such as a microwave generator by using a flux compression generator (FCG), a power conditioning system (PCS) is needed. For this purpose, three types of power conditioning systems were designed; Types 1 to 3. The output of those systems were measured and compared. Type-1 was made up of a mousetrap-type explosive opening switch, an epoxy-molded pulsed transformer and a water resistor. Type-2 consisted of an electro-explosive opening switch (EEOS) made of a copper foil, an epoxy molded pulsed transformer and a carbon resistor. Type-3 was composed of a storage inductor, an EEOS of copper wires, a peaking gap and a water resistor. Types-1, 2 and 3 generated pulses of 173 kV with width of 3.390 μs, 118 kV with 1.972 μs and 186 kV with 0.083 μs, respectively. Types-2 and 3 consumed higher energy provided from HFCG, but generated faster-rising voltage pulses with narrower pulse width than Type-1. Type-3 provided the load with higher peak power at lower input energy than Type-2.