Marx generator

About: Marx generator is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 1276 publications have been published within this topic receiving 8970 citations.

Experimental study of repetitive Marx generator

Abstract: We present the study and results obtained with a new compact repetitive Marx generator. The issue of this work was to provide an experimental high voltage repetitive generator to investigate on recurrent switching and fast power supply. To design this generator, we consider the voltage and the energy rise-time of the power supply, the total capacitance and the output voltage of the Marx. The power supply characteristics are 6 kJ/s with 40 kV and the Marx generator has 13 stages of 5.2 nF. The non-triggered gas switches work with a pressure of 3 atm. dry air/SF6 mixture and can operate at a fast repetitive rate (more than 2 kHz). The parameters of the system are in the range of 350 kV peak voltage, 15 ns rise time, 50 ns pulse width and 115 Hz repetitive rate.

Command Triggering of Synchronized Megavolt Pulse Generators

Abstract: Two separated coaxial pulse-forming lines of 1.5 ohms impedance are simultaneously switched into 1.5 ohm coaxial transition lines in a water environment producing 70 ns duration, 20 ns risetime, 1 MV pulses into a common load. The pulse-forming lines are pulse-charged to voltages up to 2 MV in a time of about 0.5 ?s from a common Marx generator. Feasibility of the command trigger design has been demonstrated on a single 1.5 ohm coaxial line system. Four closely coupled trigatron type gas/plasma switches are triggered simultaneously by a trigger generator mounted within the transition line. The command trigger pulse firing this trigger generator penetrates the outer and inner members of the transition line through an interface unit. The characteristics of the trigatrons, the trigger generators and the interface units will be described.

Evaluation of resistors for transient high-voltage applications

Abstract: Applications for transient, high-voltage pulsed power technologies are on the increase High-voltage resistors are an essential component of such systems, especially in the proof-of-concept and prototype testing The authors have recently procured and tested certain resistor samples, supplied by Kanthal Globar and HVR Advanced Power Components Results of a detailed evaluation of the HVR resistors are presented in this paper Two types of HVR high-powered resistors have been tested to determine hold-off voltage, frequency variation and resistance to high voltage The resistors were tested in a coaxial geometry driven by a two stage Marx generator The voltage and current were measured by calibrated sensors The high-voltage pulse resistance of each resistor is then determined on a pulse by pulse basis by dividing the maximum voltage by the maximum current in the time-domain The two samples (HVR-10, HVR-12; washer type) were nominally 10 and 12 ohms with resistivity of 28 and 80 ohm-cm respectively The variations in the low-voltage to pulsed high-voltage resistance were 9% for the HVR-10 and 18% for the HVR-12 With an average applied field of 65 kV/inch or 256 kV/cm, the resistors flashed in air, but not in pure SF/sub 6/ and N/sub 2//SF/sub 6/ mix These resistors were found to be satisfactory for transient applications

Compact 400 kV Marx generator with common switch housing

Abstract: A compact four stage Marx with six parallel Marx generators per stage and a common switch housing, developed for various Air Force applications, is described Unique features of the compact Marx include a single cast epoxy switch housing common to each stage that can use six independent spark gaps or one continuous ring gap packaged in a housing measuring 76 cm in diameter, 56 cm in height and of 295 kg Initial test results of the Marx into a 5 /spl Omega/ resistive load and rep-rate performance of the Marx's four stage 160 kV open air trigger Marx, are discussed Individual Marx stages were designed to operate with a maximum bipolar +/-50 kV charge and erected capacitance of 60 nF providing a per pulse energy of 48 kJ Design goals were to provide a 500 ns wide pulse with a 100 ns rise time into the 5 /spl Omega/ load The spark gaps and capacitors are arranged radially at sixty degree intervals, and the latter are connected with simple banana plugs to provide easy removal The switches are designed to operate with dry air pressurized to 80 psig, and the Marx was designed to be submerged in dielectric oil The first stage of the Marx is triggered by the four stage 160 kV trigger Marx Pulsed operation at several hertz was investigated for burst mode operation with and without gas flow Possible investigation of an eight stage 800 kV Marx is contemplated

Zero-dimensional simulations of wire array experiments and Z-pinch flux compression using the SPEED2 generator

Abstract: Zero-dimensional simulations are used to gain an insight into the optimal setup for which the best energy transfer efficiency between the generator and the load system, and high currents at the moment of pinch are expected in wire array experiments using the SPEED2 generator The generator is characterized by 41 μF equivalent Marx generator capacity, 300 kV maximum charge voltage, 187 kJ and 4 MA maximum current in short circuit at maximum charge voltage, 400 ns first quarter of period and dI/dt~1013 A s−1 The model used in the simulations describes the dynamics of the current sheet coupled to the dynamics of the electric circuit In order to have a better understanding of the generator behaviour when magnetic flux compression experiments using wire arrays are driven in SPEED2, the presence of an external axial magnetic field has also been considered Based on the simulations results, a load design criteria for wire arrays experiments in SPEED2 is presented The procedure to find a load design criterion presented here, is quite general and could be applied to experiments such as wire arrays or gas puff Z-pinches when these are driven by using low impedance capacitive generators