Experimental Realization of an Eight-Stage XRAM Generator Based on ICCOS Semiconductor Opening Switches, Fed by a Magnetodynamic Storage System

Abstract

Inductive energy storage systems reach energy densities being one order of magnitude higher than those of capacitive storages. Therefore, pulsed power supplies for electric weapon or defense systems can be much more compact with inductive storages instead of capacitive ones. There is, however, one obstacle to be overcome: Inductive storage systems need opening switches instead of closing switches, which are much more difficult to realize. Using our recently developed inverse current commutation with semiconductor devices (ICCOS) countercurrent thyristor high-power opening switch capable of interrupting currents up to 28 kA, we report the experimental realization of an eight-stage XRAM generator fed by the world's most compact magnetodynamic storage system (MDS; energy density of 60 MJ/m3 , power output of 1.2 MW with 4 kA during 5 s) which is able to multiply the MDS's current output by eight to 32 kA. Experimental data show a pretty perfect concordance between simulation and experiment so that XRAM generators with much more than eight stages and higher energies should easily be feasible.