Improved core insulation schemes for multi-terawatt magnetic switches

Conference · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1989

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/PPC.1989.767578· OSTI ID:6245706

Harjes, H. C.; Mann, G. A.; Neau, E. L.; Morgan, F. A.

The operation of multi-terawatt magnetic switches was successfully demonstrated in the CometII pulsed power module in 1984. Those switches, however, had short lifetimes (<100 shots) due to inter-lamina dielectric breakdowns at electric-field levels far lower than expected. Since then, experiments have been conducted to gain an understanding of this problem. We found that the breakdowns occurred at low electric-field levels, because the thin dielectric film (Mylar) was abrasively degraded by the relatively rough surface of the magnetic tape (Metglas) during the core winding process. This problem can be solved by modifying the Metglas surface before winding. A factor of 2 improvement in breakdown level, from .8 MV/cm to 1.6 MV/cm, has been demonstrated on the MSTF module (a Marx driven, 500 kV, 2 ..cap omega.., 50 ns PFN) in 18'' OD switches wound with Electrodag coated Metglas (nominal coating thickness /approximately/6 ..mu..m). Even better performance has been achieved in smaller scale tests with an electrophoretically applied plastic-coated Metglas. A description of these experiments and a discussion of the results will be presented. 7 refs., 10 figs., 1 tab.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 6245706
• Report Number(s): SAND-89-0091C; CONF-890665-21; ON: DE89013814
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420200 -- Engineering-- Facilities
Equipment
&amp; Techniques
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700208* -- Fusion Power Plant Technology-- Inertial Confinement Technology
BREAKDOWN
CAPACITORS
CONFINEMENT
DESIGN
DIELECTRIC MATERIALS
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRICAL INSULATION
EQUIPMENT
FILMS
INERTIAL CONFINEMENT
MATERIALS
MODIFICATIONS
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
SWITCHES
THIN FILMS