A self-activating high-voltage, high-energy crowbar

Turnbull, S.M.; MacGregor, S.J.; Tuema, F.A.; McPhee, Andrew J

doi:10.1088/0022-3727/33/11/322

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 14 publications

(19 reference statements)

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“…In addition, the added capacitors will result in system redundancy and bulk. A so-called "crowbar" technique [8][9][10][11][12] for preventing the oscillation of circuit and energy re-storage in the capacitors was proposed, that is, the energy storage capacitors are short-circuited at about current maximum. Crowbar system mainly consists of low inductance capacitors, main and crowbar switches for the capacitors, and an inductive load [3,13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High-voltage and high-current crowbar system based on pseudospark switches: from system design to verification

et al. 2020

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This paper presents a high-voltage and high-current crowbar system using pseudospark switches to produce a fast front edge and prolonged pulse current with low ripple amplitude. The crowbar system mainly consists of a main switch, a crowbar switch, an energy storage capacitor, and an inductive load. The basic parameters of the pseudospark switch crowbar system: the storage capacitance is 5 µF, the typical operation voltage is 30 kV, the peak discharge current is about 46.2 kA, the rise time is 4.3 µs, and the pulse duration time is approximately 109 µs, which is nearly 25 times of the rise time. In this paper, we report the timing setting for crowbar system. Experimental results show that crowbar timing should be set slightly after first current maximum, which has a great advantage of increasing the time scale without any reduction in the loss-free peak current. In addition, the pulse current characteristics are also studied. In the research, crowbar inductance L c and crowbar resistance R c have significant effects on the ripple amplitude and load current amplitude of pulse current. The experimental results also show that the crowbar current I c can reach nearly twice of the coil load current I load with low crowbar inductance L c . The over-current capacity of the crowbar switch needs to be greater than that of the main switch. The experimental results in this paper can be used to optimize the inductive load current in high-voltage and high-current crowbar system. K: Pulsed power; Plasma generation (laser-produced, RF, x ray-produced)1Corresponding author.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High-voltage and high-current crowbar system based on pseudospark switches: from system design to verification

et al. 2020

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“…In addition, underwater pressure impulses can be used for medical and biological applications such as lithotripsy, inactivation of microorganisms [8], and for environmental applications including water treatment [9]. In the field of pulsed power, operation of water-filled crowbar switches is based on impulsive breakdown of water [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impulsive breakdown in water: Optimisation of energy delivery for high acoustic output

Timoshkin

Given

Wilson

et al. 2017

2017 IEEE 19th International Conference on Dielectric Liquids (ICDL)

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Abstract-The high voltage impulsive breakdown process inwater is complex, with the nature of the impulsive breakdown depending upon the magnitude, polarity and rise time of the HV impulses, the water conductivity, and the electrode topology. In the case of s and sub-s high voltage impulses of sufficient magnitude, the breakdown develops through the formation of plasma streamers in the water. When the first streamer crosses the entire inter-electrode gap, the energy released in the breakdown channel transforms this channel into a gas/vapor cavity, which pulsates and radiates acoustic impulse(s). Optimisation of the hydrodynamic (period of cavity oscillation) and acoustic (peak magnitude of the acoustic impulse(s)) parameters is required for practical applications of these underwater spark discharges. The present paper analyses the functional behavior of the period of cavity oscillation and the peak magnitude of the acoustic impulse for spark discharges generated by self-triggered underwater discharges (free discharges), spark discharges triggered by air bubbles injected into the inter-electrode gap, and wire-guided discharges. The advantages and limitations of these methods of generation of underwater acoustic impulses by spark discharges are discussed.

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