Review of Plasma Flow Switch Development

Turchi, P. J.; Alme, M. L.; Bird, Gareth Adam; Boyer, C. N.; Coffey, S.K.; Conte, D.; Davis, J.; Seiler, S. W.

doi:10.1109/tps.1987.4316787

Cited by 39 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…This phenomenon is also confirmed by simulation results of highdensity plasma dynamics under magnetic field pressure of current pulse [4]. Due to the downstream plasma propagation, switch ceases to operate as a certain space localized element and gets features specific for the plasma flow switches operation [5]. By this the plasma streams from opening switch can lead to load shunting and to decreasing in efficiency of the energy delivered to the load.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 55%

Analysis of scheme with load upstream of plasma opening switch

Loginov¹

2009

IEEE Trans. Dielect. Electr. Insul.

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This paper presents the analysis of an arrangement with the load upstream of the plasma opening switch. For a linear increasing switch resistance in the current interruption phase, the analytical expressions for determination of the load pulse parameters are developed. Descriptions of two designs of the load connection upstream of the switch are given, and the obtained experimental results are presented. A comparison between experimental and calculation results are also given for an ideally operating switch which opens with constant resistance rise rate determined from experimentally obtained resistance time history at switch opening.Index Terms -Inductive energy storage, plasma opening switch.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 55%

Analysis of scheme with load upstream of plasma opening switch

Loginov¹

2009

IEEE Trans. Dielect. Electr. Insul.

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“…Thus, figures-of-merit are maximizing the magnetic energy in the coaxial guns at peak current, maximizing the peak current itself, and achieving adequate armature speed at the time of switch opening. Experimentally [9], [11], speeds in excess of 60 km/s for the plasma armature when it reaches the end of the center conductor appear adequate to separate the armature from slower, thermal plasma from the conductor surface. For the present PHELIX values of L s = 24 nH and (L E C) 1/2 = 3.12 μs, and with the inductance gradient of previous PFS experiments [9] of L do = 57.5 nH/m for r 2 /r 1 = 4/3, the characteristic speed is u c = 134 km/s.…”

Section: Railgunsmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Experimentally [9], [11], speeds in excess of 60 km/s for the plasma armature when it reaches the end of the center conductor appear adequate to separate the armature from slower, thermal plasma from the conductor surface. For the present PHELIX values of L s = 24 nH and (L E C) 1/2 = 3.12 μs, and with the inductance gradient of previous PFS experiments [9] of L do = 57.5 nH/m for r 2 /r 1 = 4/3, the characteristic speed is u c = 134 km/s. We therefore need a value of normalized speed of at least ω = 60/134 = 0.45 near the time of peak current in the secondary.…”

Section: Railgunsmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…PLASMA FLOW SWITCH An example of a coaxial, linear accelerator is the plasma flow switch (PFS) in which the armature mass is created by electrical discharge through wire-arrays and foils connecting coaxial electrodes in vacuum [9]. The goals here are accumulation of magnetic energy in the accelerator at high peak currents and release of this energy by the high-speed motion of the armature off the end of the center conductor.…”

Section: Railgunsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Compact Transformer Drive for High-Current Applications

Turchi

2015

IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci.

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The approach called precision high energy-density liner implosion experiment (PHELIX) provides a technique to allow research on high energy-density phenomena associated with liner implosions in a scaled-down system suitable for use with proton radiography. It has been noted that the ratio of load current to bank energy is almost an order of magnitude higher using the PHELIX transformer technique than achievable with direct drive from high-energy capacitor banks. This increase in current per stored-joule offers the opportunity for using similar transformer arrangements for other applications apart from imploding liners. These potential applications include rail-guns and the dense plasma focus. Results from the dimensionless analyses previously used successfully to design PHELIX will be described for these new applications and design limitations will be discussed.

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“…7 A review of plasma flow switches can be found in Ref. 8. Plasma erosion opening switches (PEOSs) involve the erosion of an auxiliary conducting plasma channel positioned in parallel to the load.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterisation of the current switch mechanism in two-stage wire array Z-pinches

et al. 2015

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In this paper, we describe the operation of a two-stage wire array z-pinch driven by the 1.4 MA, 240 ns rise-time Magpie pulsed-power device at Imperial College London. In this setup, an inverse wire array acts as a fast current switch, delivering a current pre-pulse into a cylindrical load wire array, before rapidly switching the majority of the generator current into the load after a 100–150 ns dwell time. A detailed analysis of the evolution of the load array during the pre-pulse is presented. Measurements of the load resistivity and energy deposition suggest significant bulk heating of the array mass occurs. The ∼5 kA pre-pulse delivers ∼0.8 J of energy to the load, leaving it in a mixed, predominantly liquid-vapour state. The main current switch occurs as the inverse array begins to explode and plasma expands into the load region. Electrical and imaging diagnostics indicate that the main current switch may evolve in part as a plasma flow switch, driven by the expansion of a magnetic cavity and plasma bubble along the length of the load array. Analysis of implosion trajectories suggests that approximately 1 MA switches into the load in 100 ns, corresponding to a doubling of the generator dI/dt. Potential scaling of the device to higher current machines is discussed.

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Review of Plasma Flow Switch Development

Cited by 39 publications

References 9 publications

Analysis of scheme with load upstream of plasma opening switch

Analysis of scheme with load upstream of plasma opening switch

Compact Transformer Drive for High-Current Applications

Characterisation of the current switch mechanism in two-stage wire array Z-pinches

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