Fuse and load testing with mid-sized, high energy density flux compression generators

Compact Pulsed Power Systems (CPPSs) require power sources that are small in size yet can produce the necessary electrical energy required to drive a given load. Helical Flux Compression Generators (HFCGs) are attractive for single shot applications due to their rapid conversion of chemical energy to electrical energy. Mid-sized generators occupy little total volume (∼4,000-cm³ total with a compressible volume of ∼300-cm³ in the present generator design), while the high explosives used in an HFCG provide an energy density of ∼8,000 MJ/m³. Consistent output current and energy gain from shot to shot are key variables in the ability of an HFCG to drive CPPSs effectively. An investigation into the practicality of using mid-sized HFCGs as the driver for single shot CPPSs is presented. Data and waveforms from generators fired into 3 μH inductive loads are shown, with results measuring the generator’s performance as a driver for an inductive energy storage (IES) system. Results are also shown from adding a power conditioning system to the output of the HFCG, where the measurements demonstrate the ability of an HFCG to drive high impedance loads. The effectiveness of a mid-sized HFCG as drivers for these systems will be evaluated.