Simulations of a plasma flow switch

Journal Article · Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1987 · IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/TPS.1987.4316789· OSTI ID:5322502

Buff, J; Frese, M H; Giancola, A J; Peterkin, R E; Roderick, N F

In a portion of the experimental program using the SHIVA Star capacitor bank at the Air Force Weapons Laboratory (AFWL), a cylindrical foil load is imploded using an inductive store and a plasma flow switch. The authors performed a number of two-dimensional simulations of the switch and load using the MHD code MACH2. In addition to explaining the data from the first series of experiments, the simulations led to design modifications of the basic plasma flow switch that resulted in improved current delivery and in enhanced radiation yield. The key modification was closing portions of the vane structure. The switch must be sealed shut or else substantial current will flow in the diffuse gas that is ablated from the walls of the switch barrel.

• Research Organization: Mission Research Corp., Albuquerque, NM 87106 (US)
• OSTI ID: 5322502
• Journal Information: IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci.; (United States), Vol. PS-15:6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
M CODES
PLASMA SWITCHES
COMPUTER-AIDED DESIGN
CAPACITORS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
DYNAMIC LOADS
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
INDUCTION
SHIVA FACILITY
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
YIELDS
COMPUTER CODES
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
SIMULATION
SWITCHES
420800* - Engineering- Electronic Circuits & Devices- (-1989)
420300 - Engineering- Lasers- (-1989)
990220 - Computers
Computerized Models
& Computer Programs- (1987-1989)