Architecture, implementation, and testing of a multiple-shell gas injection system for high current implosions on the Z accelerator

Journal Article · Sat Jun 15 04:00:00 EDT 2013 · Review of Scientific Instruments

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4809511· OSTI ID:22118646

Krishnan, Mahadevan; Elliott, Kristi Wilson; Madden, Robert E. ^[1]; Coleman, P. L. ^[2]; Thompson, John R. ^[3]; Bixler, Alex ^[4]; Lamppa, D. C.; McKenney, J. L.; Strizic, T.; Johnson, D.; Johns, O.; Vigil, M. P.; Jones, B.; Ampleford, D. J.; Savage, M. E.; Cuneo, M. E.; Jones, M. C. ^[5]

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1. Alameda Applied Sciences Corporation, San Leandro, California 94577 (United States)
2. Evergreen Hill Sciences, Philomath, Oregon 97370 (United States)
3. 812 Temple Street, San Diego, California 92106 (United States)
4. Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720 (United States)
5. Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185 (United States)

Tests are ongoing to conduct {approx}20 MA z-pinch implosions on the Z accelerator at Sandia National Laboratory using Ar, Kr, and D{sub 2} gas puffs as the imploding loads. The relatively high cost of operations on a machine of this scale imposes stringent requirements on the functionality, reliability, and safety of gas puff hardware. Here we describe the development of a prototype gas puff system including the multiple-shell nozzles, electromagnetic drivers for each nozzle's valve, a UV pre-ionizer, and an inductive isolator to isolate the {approx}2.4 MV machine voltage pulse present at the gas load from the necessary electrical and fluid connections made to the puff system from outside the Z vacuum chamber. This paper shows how the assembly couples to the overall Z system and presents data taken to validate the functionality of the overall system.

• OSTI ID: 22118646
• Journal Information: Review of Scientific Instruments, Journal Name: Review of Scientific Instruments Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 84; ISSN 0034-6748; ISSN RSINAK
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ACCELERATORS
ARCHITECTURE
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
EXPLOSIONS
GAS INJECTION
IMPLEMENTATION
IMPLOSIONS
JETS
NOZZLES
PULSES
RELIABILITY
SAFETY
SANDIA NATIONAL LABORATORIES
TESTING