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Title: The linear electric motor: Instability at 1,000 g`s

Abstract

When fluid of high density is supported against gravity by a less dense liquid, the system is unstable, and microscopic perturbations grow at the interface between the fluids. This phenomenon, called the Rayleigh-Taylor instability, also occurs when a bottle of oil-and-vinegar salad dressing is turned upside down. The instability causes spikes of the dense fluid to penetrate the light fluid, while bubbles of the lighter fluid rise into the dense fluid. The same phenomenon occurs when a light fluid is used to accelerate a dense fluid, causing the two fluids to mix at a very high rate. For example, during the implosion of an ICF capsule, this instability can cause enough mixing to contaminate, cool, and degrade the yield of the thermonuclear fuel. The LEM is an excellent tool for studying this instability, but what is it? Think of a miniature high-speed electric train (the container) hurtling down a track (the electrodes) while diagnostic equipment (optical and laser) photographs it. The LEM, consists of four linear electrodes, or rails, that carry an electrical current to a pair of sliding armatures on the container. A magnetic field is produced that works in concert with the rail-armature current to accelerate the container--justmore » as in an electric motor, but in a linear fashion rather than in rotation. The magnetic field is augmented with elongated coils just as in a conventional electric motor. This configuration also helps hold the armatures against the electrodes to prevent arcing. The electrical energy (0.6 megajoules) is provided by 16 capacitor banks that can be triggered independently to produce different acceleration profiles (i.e., how the acceleration varies with time).« less

Authors:
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
458878
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Science and Technology Review
Additional Journal Information:
Other Information: PBD: Mar 1997
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
66 PHYSICS; 42 ENGINEERING NOT INCLUDED IN OTHER CATEGORIES; 70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION; RAYLEIGH-TAYLOR INSTABILITY; DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES; HYDRODYNAMICS; INERTIAL CONFINEMENT; ELECTRIC MOTORS

Citation Formats

Hunter, S. The linear electric motor: Instability at 1,000 g`s. United States: N. p., 1997. Web.
Hunter, S. The linear electric motor: Instability at 1,000 g`s. United States.
Hunter, S. 1997. "The linear electric motor: Instability at 1,000 g`s". United States.
@article{osti_458878,
title = {The linear electric motor: Instability at 1,000 g`s},
author = {Hunter, S},
abstractNote = {When fluid of high density is supported against gravity by a less dense liquid, the system is unstable, and microscopic perturbations grow at the interface between the fluids. This phenomenon, called the Rayleigh-Taylor instability, also occurs when a bottle of oil-and-vinegar salad dressing is turned upside down. The instability causes spikes of the dense fluid to penetrate the light fluid, while bubbles of the lighter fluid rise into the dense fluid. The same phenomenon occurs when a light fluid is used to accelerate a dense fluid, causing the two fluids to mix at a very high rate. For example, during the implosion of an ICF capsule, this instability can cause enough mixing to contaminate, cool, and degrade the yield of the thermonuclear fuel. The LEM is an excellent tool for studying this instability, but what is it? Think of a miniature high-speed electric train (the container) hurtling down a track (the electrodes) while diagnostic equipment (optical and laser) photographs it. The LEM, consists of four linear electrodes, or rails, that carry an electrical current to a pair of sliding armatures on the container. A magnetic field is produced that works in concert with the rail-armature current to accelerate the container--just as in an electric motor, but in a linear fashion rather than in rotation. The magnetic field is augmented with elongated coils just as in a conventional electric motor. This configuration also helps hold the armatures against the electrodes to prevent arcing. The electrical energy (0.6 megajoules) is provided by 16 capacitor banks that can be triggered independently to produce different acceleration profiles (i.e., how the acceleration varies with time).},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/458878}, journal = {Science and Technology Review},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1997},
month = {Sat Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1997}
}