Electromagnetic Phenomena   2003, Vol.3, No.3(11)  397-404

 

PACS №: 84.60.-h; 84.70.+p

Andreas A. Neuber, Juan-Carlos Hernandez, James C. Dickens, Magne Kristiansen

Center for Pulsed Power and Power Electronics Research
Departments of Electrical & Computer Engineering and Physics
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX 79409-3102
e-mail: andreas.neuber@ttu.edu

Helical MFCG for Driving a High Inductance Load

Abstract

Even at small dimensions of less than 0.5 meter in length end-initiated helical magnetic flux compression generators (MFCG) have at least one order of magnitude higher energy density (by weight or volume) than capacitive energy storage with similar discharge time characteristics. However, simple MFCGs with a single helix produce high output energy only into low inductance loads, thus producing several 100 kA of current at a voltage level of less than 10 kV. Many pulsed power devices require less current but a considerably higher voltage level. For effectively driving a high inductance load of several μH, a multistage MFCG design has been suggested. We successfully tested a dual stage MFCG with a total length of 250 mm, a helix inner diameter of 51 mm, which is wound with Teflon insulated stranded wire of different sizes in the range from AWG 12 to AWG 22. We have presently achieved an energy gain of ~ 13 into a 3 μH load and will discuss the generator performance based on experimental current/voltage waveforms and specify the observed losses.

 
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