Progress in the Increase of Life in Five Kinds of High Energy Storage Capacitors

Abstract

High-voltage high-current pulse power sources such as linear transformer driver, Marx generator and magnetically driven flyer device require that the capacitors have a long life and high reliability. To meet requirements, life tests of five capacitors which have been used in pulse power systems were carried out. A capacitor test facility capable of ~3,000 shots/month, which is a portable high-voltage test facility designed primarily for testing high voltage capacitor that may be used in future, has been designed and operated. This paper summarizes the results of our lifetime testing of the selected five kinds of high energy storage low inductance capacitors. Different combinations of insulating mediums (polypropylene film and high quality capacitor paper) and impregnating agents (benzyl toluene and castor oil) were studied in order to optimize the structure of capacitors and improve performance of capacitors in future. The effects of high reversal on the lifetimes of capacitor for given insulating medium and impregnating agent show that the selected insulating medium and impregnating agent are suitable for capacitor working under high reversal. The life test data which shows that the design of these capacitors is successful may be combined to estimate the reliability of pulse power sources in the future. These work and results may give us some guidelines to design and apply a capacitor.