Modelization and test of a 500 J superconducting pulsed power transformer

Abstract

The aim of this work is to prove the feasibility of providing high current pulses through the use of a superconducting pulsed power transformer. This article presents the design and tests of a 500 J pulsed power transformer. This paper also describes the computer code created to simulate the primary quench development. During the tests, the primary winding was charged to its rated current (500 A). The secondary being connected to a 0.7 mC2 and 0.2 pH load, we obtained through this load a pulsed discharge of 7.2 ms duration. The current rose to 12.3 kA in 0.5 ms and 38 YO of the energy stored in the primary winding was transferred to the load. This current and energy transfer between primary and secondary is the best one ever recorded for such a device.

Review of Inductive Pulsed Power Generators for Railguns

“…With respect to pulse transformer, several researcher applied superconducting coils as primary transformer windings and simultaneoulsy as opening switches [42]- [44]. The current in the primary windings was rapidly reduced by forcing the superconductor into the normal-conducting state by an intended temperature increase.…”

“…However, several researchers applied superconducting coils in small scale demonstrators [41], [43], [54], [70]. Some of them applied the superconductor itself as opening switch by letting it quench on purpose [42], [44], [75]. A 20 MJ/1 MA conceptional design for a high temperature superconducting coil pulsed power generator is presented in [76], [77].…”