Vacuum Insulator Stack Research Articles

Analytic Model and Optimization of Transmission-Line Impedance Transformers for Tens of MA-Class Pulsed Power Accelerator

The monolithic radial transmission line (MRTL) is a key component in tens of MA-class pulsed power accelerators, which connects the multiparallel modules of the prime pulsed power sources to the central vacuum insulator stack and magnetically insulated transmission line (stack-MITL system). The choice of electrical parameters of MRTL is essential for the entire accelerator design, which would bring great influences on the peak output current and the power couple efficiency. In Phys. Rev. Special Topics-Accel. Beam s, 2015, 18(10): 110401, some semianalytical formulae have been proposed to optimize the MRTL impedance that maximizes the peak current or peak power on the stack-MITL system. However, the formulae are only valid under several assumptions that are thought to be unpractical. In this article, an analytic model of the accelerator is developed to optimize the electrical parameters of MRTL. Analytical expressions of the output voltage and current at the terminal of MRTL are deduced. By simplifying the analytic model, mathematical expressions of the optimal MRTL output impedance that maximizes the peak current or peak power delivered from the prime power sources to the stack-MITL system are obtained. The factors that contribute to the optimal impedance are analyzed comprehensively with short-circuit load and Z-pinch load. Conclusions are beneficial to design the pulsed power accelerator in the future.

Analysis of vacuum insulator stack flashover probability with statistical model

The statistical model is used as a typical method for vacuum insulator stack flashover probability calculation. We have calculated the stack flashover probability and the g factors by which a flashover will change the voltages on the each of the insulator rings with different conditions. The calculated results show that the real performance of insulator stack characteristics with the multi-stage and large circumferential transit time. The matrix a in the statistical model was predigested to reduce the g calculation time and make the probability calculation accurate. Finally, analysis based on fixed distance between insulation rings showed that there were some optimized ring numbers with maximum voltage amplitude and electrical field amplitude. This conclusion could be used for evaluation of insulation ring number in insulator stack design.

Conceptual designs of two petawatt-class pulsed-power accelerators for high-energy-density-physics experiments

Here, we have developed conceptual designs of two petawatt-class pulsed-power accelerators: Z 300 and Z 800. The designs are based on an accelerator architecture that is founded on two concepts: single-stage electrical-pulse compression and impedance matching [Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beams 10, 030401 (2007)]. The prime power source of each machine consists of 90 linear-transformer-driver (LTD) modules. Each module comprises LTD cavities connected electrically in series, each of which is powered by 5-GW LTD bricks connected electrically in parallel. (A brick comprises a single switch and two capacitors in series.) Six water-insulated radial-transmission-line impedance transformers transport the power generated by the modules to a six-level vacuum-insulator stack. The stack serves as the accelerator’s water-vacuum interface. The stack is connected to six conical outer magnetically insulated vacuum transmission lines (MITLs), which are joined in parallel at a 10-cm radius by a triple-post-hole vacuum convolute. The convolute sums the electrical currents at the outputs of the six outer MITLs, and delivers the combined current to a single short inner MITL. The inner MITL transmits the combined current to the accelerator’s physics-package load. Z 300 is 35 m in diameter and stores 48 MJ of electrical energy in its LTD capacitors. The acceleratormore » generates 320 TW of electrical power at the output of the LTD system, and delivers 48 MA in 154 ns to a magnetized-liner inertial-fusion (MagLIF) target [Phys. Plasmas 17, 056303 (2010)]. The peak electrical power at the MagLIF target is 870 TW, which is the highest power throughout the accelerator. Power amplification is accomplished by the centrally located vacuum section, which serves as an intermediate inductive-energy-storage device. The principal goal of Z 300 is to achieve thermonuclear ignition; i.e., a fusion yield that exceeds the energy transmitted by the accelerator to the liner. 2D magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations suggest Z 300 will deliver 4.3 MJ to the liner, and achieve a yield on the order of 18 MJ. Z 800 is 52 m in diameter and stores 130 MJ. This accelerator generates 890 TW at the output of its LTD system, and delivers 65 MA in 113 ns to a MagLIF target. The peak electrical power at the MagLIF liner is 2500 TW. The principal goal of Z 800 is to achieve high-yield thermonuclear fusion; i.e., a yield that exceeds the energy initially stored by the accelerator’s capacitors. 2D MHD simulations suggest Z 800 will deliver 8.0 MJ to the liner, and achieve a yield on the order of 440 MJ. Z 300 and Z 800, or variations of these accelerators, will allow the international high-energy-density-physics community to conduct advanced inertial-confinement-fusion, radiation-physics, material-physics, and laboratory-astrophysics experiments over heretofore-inaccessible parameter regimes.« less

Voltage measurements at the vacuum post-hole convolute of theZpulsed-power accelerator

Presented are voltage measurements taken near the load region on the $Z$ pulsed-power accelerator using an inductive voltage monitor (IVM). Specifically, the IVM was connected to, and thus monitored the voltage at, the bottom level of the accelerator's vacuum double post-hole convolute. Additional voltage and current measurements were taken at the accelerator's vacuum-insulator stack (at a radius of 1.6 m) by using standard $D$-dot and $B$-dot probes, respectively. During postprocessing, the measurements taken at the stack were translated to the location of the IVM measurements by using a lossless propagation model of the $Z$ accelerator's magnetically insulated transmission lines (MITLs) and a lumped inductor model of the vacuum post-hole convolute. Across a wide variety of experiments conducted on the $Z$ accelerator, the voltage histories obtained from the IVM and the lossless propagation technique agree well in overall shape and magnitude. However, large-amplitude, high-frequency oscillations are more pronounced in the IVM records. It is unclear whether these larger oscillations represent true voltage oscillations at the convolute or if they are due to noise pickup and/or transit-time effects and other resonant modes in the IVM. Results using a transit-time-correction technique and Fourier analysis support the latter. Regardless of which interpretation is correct, both true voltage oscillations and the excitement of resonant modes could be the result of transient electrical breakdowns in the post-hole convolute, though more information is required to determine definitively if such breakdowns occurred. Despite the larger oscillations in the IVM records, the general agreement found between the lossless propagation results and the results of the IVM shows that large voltages are transmitted efficiently through the MITLs on $Z$. These results are complementary to previous studies [R. D. McBride et al., Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beams 13, 120401 (2010)] that showed efficient transmission of large currents through the MITLs on $Z$. Taken together, the two studies demonstrate the overall efficient delivery of very large electrical powers through the MITLs on $Z$.

Optimization of the vacuum insulator stack of the MIG pulsed power generator

The MIG multi-purpose pulsed power machine is intended to generate voltage pulses of amplitude up to 6 MV with electron-beam loads and current pulses of amplitude up to 2.5 MA and rise time '00 ns with inductive loads like Z pinches. The MIG generator is capable of producing a peak power of 2.5 TW. Its water transmission line is separated from the vacuum line by an insulator stack. In the existing design of the insulator, some malfunctions have been detected. The most serious problems revealed are the vacuum surface flashover occurring before the current peaks and the deep discharge traces on the water-polyethylene interface of the two rings placed closer to the ground. A comprehensive numerical simulation of the electric field distribution in the insulator of the MIG generator has been performed. It has been found that the chief drawbacks are nonuniform voltage grading across the insulator rings and significant enhancement of the electric field at anode triple junctions. An improved design of the insulator stack has been developed. It is expected that the proposed modification that requires no rearrangement of either the water line or the load-containing vacuum chamber will provide higher electric strength of the insulator.

Circuit Modeling for PTS's Magnetically Insulated Transmission Lines

The primary test stand (PTS) is a high-current accelerator for Z-pinch experiment at China Academy of Engineering Physics. In this paper, a circuit model for its magnetically insulated transmission lines (MITLs) have been developed, in which all the PTSs transmission line (TL) sections from water TLs, to vacuum insulator stack, to both outer and inner MITLs, and eventually to a wire array load, have been treated as a total of 273 TL elements with different transit time and impedance, among which are comprised of 195 MITL elements. With the aid of the model, the performance of all these sections have been predicted and discussed, including conducting current, interface voltage, loss current, flow impedance, and grounded resistor of each MITL element, as well as the dynamic characteristics of the wire array load. The reliability and accuracy for all these predicted results will await the examination of future experiments.

Voltage and current measurement for multi-level vacuum insulator stack

Differential-output capacitive divider(D-dot probes) and current loops (B-dot probes) were designed and calibrated to derive vacuum insulator stack voltage and current in the PTS facility. Frequency response experiments indicated that the D-dots upper limiting frequency was 270 MHz and B-dots was 100 MHz. All the monitors were calibrated in-situ. The water outside the insulator stack was present to keep the distribution of D-dot probes electric field. The experimental results showed that the voltage and current of insulator stack were reasonable according to theoretical predictions. And the results of measurement and magnetically insulated transmission line(MITL) current were self-consistent. But large variations in the monitor signals which were contributed from asymmetric current distribution azimuthally compromised the accuracy of azimuthal averages calculated from the signals.

Calculations and experimental investigation of pulse transmission system in the typical module of the facility “Gamma”

For the last few years in INRP RFNC-VNIIEF the works on development of a multi-module «Gamma» facility have been conducted. An important part of each module is a pulse transmission system (PTS), providing transportation of a high-volt electromagnetic pulse (~2.3 MV, ~60 ns) to a diode load, positioned at an angle of ~80° to the axis of a module's forming system. Basic PTS units: a water-insulated transmission line (WTL), having a bended section, a vacuum insulator stack and a magnetically-insulated transmission line (MITL). At the first stage an experimental sample of PTS with diameter 0.65 m was studied. Performed studies allowed a conclusion that the given experimental PTS sample did not possess enough electric strength, what was a reason for electric breakdowns in the bended section of WTL. Reasons for breakdown occurrence were analyzed; conclusions were made on the necessity for increasing PTS diameter. As a result a PTS version with diameter ~1 m was developed. This paper presents results of the experimental studies as a part of the facility module. Totally 200 shots of the module were performed with given PTS at different charge voltage of its forming lines. Reliable and steady operation of all PTS units, as well as correspondence between output module parameters and their calculated values were proved. When using PTS, without MITL in the module diode load, with impedance ~3 Ohm the pulses with power 1.5 TW and total electron energy in a pulse ~80 kJ were obtained. When using PTS with cylindrical MITL of 1.6 m length, the pulse power was ~1.4 TW.

多层轴向绝缘堆的电压电流测量

多层轴向绝缘堆的电压电流测量

PTS装置绝缘堆工作性能的初步分析

PTS装置绝缘堆工作性能的初步分析

真空绝缘堆均压环的结构优化

真空绝缘堆均压环的结构优化

考虑磁场闪络抑制效应的真空绝缘堆闪络概率计算

考虑磁场闪络抑制效应的真空绝缘堆闪络概率计算

Three-dimensional electromagnetic model of the pulsed-powerZ-pinch accelerator

A three-dimensional, fully electromagnetic model of the principal pulsed-power components of the 26-MA ZR accelerator [D. H. McDaniel et al., in Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Dense $Z$-Pinches (AIP, New York, 2002), p. 23] has been developed. This large-scale simulation model tracks the evolution of electromagnetic waves through the accelerator's intermediate-storage capacitors, laser-triggered gas switches, pulse-forming lines, water switches, triplate transmission lines, and water convolute to the vacuum insulator stack. The insulator-stack electrodes are coupled to a transmission-line circuit model of the four-level magnetically insulated vacuum-transmission-line section and double-post-hole convolute. The vacuum-section circuit model is terminated by a one-dimensional self-consistent dynamic model of an imploding $z$-pinch load. The simulation results are compared with electrical measurements made throughout the ZR accelerator, and are in good agreement with the data, especially for times until peak load power. This modeling effort demonstrates that 3D electromagnetic models of large-scale, multiple-module, pulsed-power accelerators are now computationally tractable. This, in turn, presents new opportunities for simulating the operation of existing pulsed-power systems used in a variety of high-energy-density-physics and radiographic applications, as well as even higher-power next-generation accelerators before they are constructed.

PTS装置分层真空轴向绝缘堆设计

PTS装置分层真空轴向绝缘堆设计

55-TW magnetically insulated transmission-line system: Design, simulations, and performance

We describe herein a system of self-magnetically insulated vacuum transmission lines (MITLs) that operated successfully at 20 MA, 3 MV, and 55 TW. The system delivered the electromagnetic-power pulse generated by the $Z$ accelerator to a physics-package load on over 1700 $Z$ shots. The system included four levels that were electrically in parallel. Each level consisted of a water flare, vacuum-insulator stack, vacuum flare, and 1.3-m-radius conical outer MITL. The outputs of the four outer MITLs were connected in parallel by a 7.6-cm-radius 12-post double-post-hole vacuum convolute. The convolute added the currents of the four outer MITLs, and delivered the combined current to a single 6-cm-long inner MITL. The inner MITL delivered the current to the load. The total initial inductance of the stack-MITL system was 11 nH. A 300-element transmission-line-circuit model of the system has been developed using the tl code. The model accounts for the following: (i) impedance and electrical length of each of the 300 circuit elements, (ii) electron emission from MITL-cathode surfaces wherever the electric field has previously exceeded a constant threshold value, (iii) Child-Langmuir electron loss in the MITLs before magnetic insulation is established, (iv) MITL-flow-electron loss after insulation, assuming either collisionless or collisional electron flow, (v) MITL-gap closure, (vi) energy loss to MITL conductors operated at high lineal current densities, (vii) time-dependent self-consistent inductance of an imploding $z$-pinch load, and (viii) load resistance, which is assumed to be constant. Simulations performed with the tl model demonstrate that the nominal geometric outer-MITL-system impedance that optimizes overall performance is a factor of $\ensuremath{\sim}3$ greater than the convolute-load impedance, which is consistent with an analytic model of an idealized MITL-load system. Power-flow measurements demonstrate that, until peak current, the $Z$ stack-MITL system performed as expected. tl calculations of the peak electromagnetic power at the stack, stack energy, stack voltage, outer-MITL current, and load current, as well as the pinch-implosion time, agree with measurements to within 5%. After peak current, tl calculations and measurements diverge, which appears to be due in part to the idealized pinch model assumed by tl. The results presented suggest that the design of the $Z$ accelerator's stack-MITL system, and the tl model, can serve as starting points for the design of stack-MITL systems of future superpower accelerators.