Capacitor analysis for rf antennas

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:5576712

Power, W H; Baity, F W; Hoffman, D J

Commercially available vacuum capacitors have been used in radio frequency (rf) antenna designs. The dimensional envelope of the capacitors has adapted favorably to antenna concepts. However, capacitors that are commercially available have not demonstrated acceptable performance characteristics for maximum design currents of 800 A rms at 80 MHz and 1300 A rms at 30 MHz or for voltages of 50 kV peak. The reason for capacitor failure was investigated. The investigation consisted of establishing existing mechanical design features, defining desired operating criteria of key capacitor components, determining component design limitations, and developing a modified concept for testing. The design criteria included a variable capacitance range of 50 to 450 pF at the maximum current conditions. Effects of capacitor cooling by means of radiative transfer and forced convective transfer were considered. The resulting modified capacitor design concept uses as many components of the commercially available capacitors as possible. An apparatus for testing and evaluation was designed for the proposed capacitor concepts. Tests have demonstrated reliable operations at 750 A and 80 MHz cw on a similar design. 2 refs., 5 figs.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 5576712
• Report Number(s): CONF-871007-82; ON: DE88004178
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700209* -- Fusion Power Plant Technology-- Component Development & Materials Testing
ANTENNAS
CAPACITORS
COOLING
CURRENTS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRODES
EQUIPMENT
HEATING
RF SYSTEMS
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
TESTING