Environmental and industrial applications of pulsed power systems

Abstract

The technology base formed by the development of high peak power simulators, laser drivers, free electron lasers (FEL's), and Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) drivers from the early 60's through the late 80's is being extended to high average power short-pulse machines with the capabilities of performing new roles in environmental cleanup applications and in supporting new types of industrial manufacturing processes. Some of these processes will require very high average beam power levels of hundreds of kilowatts to perhaps megawatts. In this paper we briefly discuss new technology capabilities and then concentrate on specific application areas that may benefit from the high specific energies and high average powers attainable with short-pulse machines. 011O5 1993 DtSTBIBU'I'ION OF THIS L._,..:I C,UME:NT IS UNLIMIFED OSTI ¢ ! such as the use of ethylene oxide or methyl bromide, which may, in turn, make accelerator treatment methods more appealing. To gain acceptance, the technology must be shown to offer a robust and cost effective solution to a specific need.

Pulsed ion beam irradiation effects on surfaces of polymeric materials

“…The RHEPP-1 (repetitive high energy pulsed power) facility is operated at SNL in support of the IBEST (ion beam surface treatment) program, and has been described in detail before [14][15][16]. The RHEPP-1 system can generate a high intensity mixed ion beam of approximately 70% carbon and 30% hydrogen from a 'flashover' ion source consisting of epoxyfilled grooves [15].…”

“…Sandia National Laboratories has recently been engaged in the evaluation of high energy electron and ion beam pulsed power systems in basic material science, which, for example, were applied to the surface treatment of metals and ceramics, and to the efficient removal of organic carbon from liquid waste [14,15]. The fundamental changes occurring in polymeric materials using these radiation sources are also of interest [16,17].…”

Removal of halocarbons from air with high-power microwaves

“…The attractive feature of this scheme is the possibility of controlling the process remotely. Some alternative methods of air purification include the irradiation of gas by a flux of relativistic electrons, 1 or by powerful laser beams. 2 The flue gas of power generating plants can be irradiated by electron beams, however, only over distances of order 1 m, whereas microwaves can be used for remote processing at distances up to hundreds of m. Laser beams, moreover, in comparison with microwave beams are characterized by much stronger attenuation in the air.…”

Recent advances in the development of high average power induction accelerators for industrial and environmental applications

“…This paper will discuss work on a new family of pulsed accelerators based on experience with singlepulse machines, thermal management techniques (Wavrik, 1992), and refined saturable core switching (Neau, 1983) to deliver systems with high average power capabilities. Groups are developing repetitive, short-pulse high average power machines (Ashby, 1991;Goodman, 1992;Johnson, 1993) that are creating new opportunities in materials surface treatment, waste treatment, food processing, and other applications (Neau, 1994). Unlike thermal processes that heat a total product volume, high power shortpulse beams offer the efficient deposition of energy in a specific volume or in a well defined surface layer.…”