Simulated and rocket-triggered lightning testing of the Lightning-Invulnerable Device System (LIDS)

Conference · Wed Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6641491

Hasbrouck, R T

We have developed a Lightning Invulnerable Device System (LIDS) to protect nuclear explosive test device systems at the US Department of Energy's Nevada Test Site (NTS) against accidental detonation by lightning. In a series of full threat-level tests of a prototype LIDS canister, we used high-energy storage capacitor banks to generate high current rate of rise (di/dt = 200 kA/..mu..s) and high-peak-current (200 kA), simulated-lightning, transient inputs to the LIDS. Subsequently, we participated in the NASA Rocket-Triggered Lightning Program (RTLP). In these experiments, a grounded wire is carried into a highly electrified cloud by a small rocket, causing the canister to be struck by actual lightning. Our results indicate that the LIDS provides an extremely effective way to prevent threat-level lightning transients from reaching the safety-critical components within the canister.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 6641491
• Report Number(s): UCRL-96247; CONF-870494-1; ON: DE87007447
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420800 -- Engineering-- Electronic Circuits & Devices-- (-1989)
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
450200* -- Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense-- Nuclear Explosions & Explosives
DATA
DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEMS
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRIC GROUNDS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
EXPLOSIVES
INFORMATION
LIGHTNING
LIGHTNING ARRESTERS
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIVES
NUMERICAL DATA
ROCKETS
SIMULATION
TESTING