Pulsed power generation using open and closed ferromagnetic circuits

Abstract

Results are presented of an experimental study of the generation of high-voltage and high-current pulses in generators designed as open and closed ferromagnetic circuits. Experiments were carried out using a light gas gun system. The magnetic projectiles were composed of ferromagnetic disks having 1.27- and 2.54-cm diameters. It has been shown that with velocities of the magnetic projectiles of 200-380 m/s, the peak voltage of the pulses produced by the generators reach several tens of kilovolts, peak current reaches kiloampere, and the energy delivered at the load is a few Joules. Generating modules connected in series will make it possible to produce a high-energy pulse with a peak voltage of a few hundred kilovolts. It has been shown that a closed ferromagnetic circuit generator is capable of generating not only single high-voltage pulses, but also repetitive oscillations. Data are given for the effects on the amplitude of high-voltage pulses caused by the length and velocity of the ferromagnetic projectiles and the design of the generating unit for both high-voltage and high-current modes of pulsed power generation.