Engineering design of the Z magnetically-insulated transmission lines and insulator stack
- EG&G MSI, Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States); and others
A 3.3 m diameter cylindrical insulator stack and a set of 3 m diameter conical magnetically insulated transmission lines (MITLs) were built for the Z accelerator. The 1.7 m tall insulator stack operates at {approx}20 MA and 2.5-3.5 MV, and was instrumented with 12 current and 24 voltage monitors. The insulator stack was concentrically and azimuthally aligned within 1.5 mm. The stack, containing 22 crosslinked polystyrene insulators and 18 grading rings, was designed to provide vertical stability for the MITLs and to resist radial buckling. 2-D and 3-D static finite element analyses (FEA) were used in designing the MITLs to limit gravity deflections to less than .25 mm. 2-D FEA dynamic analyses were done to predict motion and to help design features to restrict damage. Each MITL is divided into four concentric zones which fasten together in a way which facilitates fabrication, limits the extent of possible damage and allows for future changes at minimal cost. The tapered MITLs are supported by feedthrough rings in the insulator stack so that the gaps at small radius are adjustable from 0 to 22 mm. The MITL anodes were instrumented with 24 current monitors and have 48 additional diagnostic locations available. The MITLs were fabricated from 304L stainless steel except the outer anode sections, which were made from 6061-T6 aluminum alloy. Procedures were developed for fabrication of the large and small diameter MITL cones, as well as for the feedthrough rings and grading rings of the stack. The power-flow surfaces were successfully machined to within {+-}.25 mm of the specified contours. A large, multi-trolley MITL handling system was designed to allow for removal, cleaning and replacement of the MITLs for each shot, at a shot rate of 1.5 shots/day. Additional equipment allows for cleaning of the insulators.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- OSTI ID:
- 508104
- Report Number(s):
- SAND--97-0246C; CONF-9706113--6; ON: DE97007920
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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