Performance simulation of pulsed power supply system for electrothermal launcher

Abstract

Computer simulation of electrical discharges in the high-pressure chambers of electrothermal launcher pulsed power supply systems containing homopolar generators (HPGs), storage inductors (SIs) and two-stage opening switches with mechanical and explosive circuit breakers has been carried out at the chamber radii of (0.02-0.1) m and various values of the gap spacing (0.1-0.8) m. Space-time dependences of pressure and temperature in the chambers as well as energy losses in the circuit elements are calculated. Up to 40 per cent of the HPG energy is shown to be delivered to the plasma load. Taking it into account, the volume and the mass of a transportable power supply providing the energy input to the load at the level of 5 MJ and consisting of two 6.5 MJ HPGs connected in parallel, a 9 MJ SI, a rotating mechanical circuit breaker as well as an explosive one operating due to the current conducting thin metal cylinder destruction by annular cumulative jets are evaluated. Simulation results of the medium heating and pressure oscillations in the chamber operating at the currents of 200-300 kA through each HPG and energies of 100-300 kJ per shot are presented.