Search

Because it possesses higher current turn-off capability, the inverse current commutation with semiconductor devices (ICCOS) is a better option for the opening switch of an inductive pulsed power supply than the integrated gate commutated thyristor. This paper investigates the counter-current capacitor, which is the key component that determines the turn-off result and the volume of the counter-current branch. The major contributions of this paper include the following: 1) deriving an analytical expression for the minimum precharged capacitor voltage that can reliably turn off the main switch; 2) verifying this expression through a series of experiments within a current range of 0 to 4000 A and an energy range of 0 to 50 kJ; 3) giving an approximate expression for the optimal capacitance that minimizes the precharged energy; and 4) investigating the variation trends of the optimal capacitance and the corresponding optimal precharged energy with varying inductor current. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Superconducting pulsed-power supply (SPPS) provides an efficient method for both high-density inductive energy storage and high current pulse generation. An SPPS consisting of eight high-temperature superconducting pulsed-power transformer (HTSPPT) modules with XRAM methodology was designed and simulated in preliminary studies. It recycled the leakage flux energy and reduced the voltage across the opening switch with a capacitor in primary. However, the SPPS with XRAM methodology has two problems. The first one is that it can provide high pulse amplitude, but cannot provide enough width. The other one is that the ratio of the maximum capacitive energy over the total inductive energy is relatively large, which cuts down the overall system energy density. This paper proposes a modified topology of SPPS with capacitor reuse methodology. Multiple HTSPPT modules are divided into several groups. Each group shares the same capacitor. The procedure of the modified SPPS is presented in detail. A 270-kJ SPPS with capacitor reuse methodology is designed and simulated to illustrate the modified topology. With the load parameters of a small railgun, the peak value of the load current is 207.15 kA and the pulse half-height width is 5.56 ms, the ratio of the maximum capacitive energy over the total inductive energy is 11%. The characteristics of the modified topology are also described in detail in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper is aimed at finding the effect of varying inductive energy storage systems’ (IESSs) inductance on resistance of an electrically exploded conductor-based opening switch and profile of current transferred into load, which has not yet been fully understood. Based on experimental results obtained, it is observed that when the inductance of IESS is varied, the magnitude of load current changes so as to conform to the magnetic flux conservation law but its rise time remains unchanged. Resistance of the opening switch and energy deposited in it has been estimated using recorded voltage and current waveforms. It has been found that with increasing inductance of IESS, the resistance of switch increases, whereas energy deposited in it decreases. Using these estimated values of energy, a possible explanation of observed behavior in resistance is presented. Effect of a mismatch between the inductance of IESS and load is seen to only affect the energy transfer efficiency or magnitude of load current but not its rise time emphasizing the novel finding that for a given load, the rise time of load current is independent of the inductance of IESS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paralleled pulse-forming units (PFUs) with different triggering delays might be a paramagnetic way for generating flat-topped current wave for electromagnetic launch. Many researchers have reported that multiple capacitive storage PFUs were implemented such current waves in laboratories. However, due to its low energy density, the applications of the capacitive pulsed-power supplies are limited. Since the inductor has advantages in energy density, the inductor pulsed-power supply becomes one of the hottest topics recently. The slow transfer of energy through capacitive hybrid meat grinder with inverse current commutation with semiconductor devices proposed by Tsinghua University has demonstrated its advantage and applicability recently. Using this kind of topology, this paper proposes the design of an inductive storage PFU with a stored energy of 100-kJ. The maximum load current reaches to 50 kA and its pulsewidth is at least 5 ms. The optimized inductive storage PFU shows superiority in contrast to the capacitive storage PFU with the same energy. This paper offers the theoretical analysis and the testing foundation for investigating the inductor pulsed-power supply with higher energy. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper describes a compact high storage density inductive–capacitive storage module. The module is based on high-power opening switches using inverse current commutation with semiconductor devices commutation principle and a high storage density Brooks inductor. These opening switches, being able to switch-OFF pulse currents up to 14.5 kA by the counter-current subcircuit, make use of the general property of a standard high-power thyristors impedance transition from closing state to blocking state. The experimental results show that with the primary capacitor and counter-current commutation subcircuit charged voltage 3 and 2.5 kV, respectively, the charged current of the Brooks-type inductor is about 14.5 kA, with a charged time of about 4.5 ms. The output peak current of the inductive storage module is about 21 kA. The total stored energy is about 54.9 kJ while the energy density of the inductor is approximately 6.69 MJ/ \textm^3 , which is not including the primary storage and commutation unit. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Inductive pulse power supplies are of interest because their energy densities are one order of magnitude higher than those of capacitive power supplies, based on the same power-output capacity. The Institute of Advanced Technology puts forward an inductive pulse power topology called the slow transfer of energy through capacitive hybrid (STRETCH) meat grinder. In this topology, an active switch is used to cut off the charging current. Limited by the current turning off ability of integrated gated commuted thyristor, it may encounter difficulties in extending to higher-energy systems. Other than that, the cost of the system is very high. In this paper, the principle of the STRETCH meat grinder is presented. Then, the STRETCH meat grinder with inverse current commutation with semiconductor devices (ICCOS), which is proposed by the Institute of Saint Louis, is presented. The process of ICCOS in the STRETCH meat grinder is illustrated in detail. Finally, simulations are made based on Simplorer 8 to explain how ICCOS works clearly. A preliminary discussion of how to design ICCOS is also presented. We conclude that the STRETCH meat grinder with ICCOS removes the limitations of the original one and has potential applications for high-energy systems in future and can cut down the cost greatly. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]