Advanced Simulator Development for Power Flow and Sources

• Main Authors: Spence, Phil, Rix, William, Miller, Richard, Sincerny, Peter, Waisman, Eduardo, Gilbert, Charles, Smith, Ian, Corcoran, Pat, Schlitt, Lee
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Subjects: 00839; Energy Storage; FLOW; GENERATORS; IMPLOSIONS; INDUCTANCE; KRYPTON; MARX GENERATORS; PE62715BR; PLASMAS(PHYSICS); POWER; PRS(PLASMA RADIATION SOURCES); PULSED POWER DRIVERS; PULSES; RADIATION; SIMULATORS; Test Facilities, Equipment and Methods; VACUUM; VACUUM INDUCTANCE; VACUUM POWER FLOW

The objective of this effort was to identify, develop, and evaluate conceptual design options for an affordable full certification simulator. To limit the scope of our study, we focused on systems capable of delivering 400 kJ of krypton k-shell (13 keV lines) radiation from imploding plasma radiation sources (PRS). We were primarily concerned with selecting pulsed power drivers and the associated pulsed power technology needed to drive PRS implosions of 100 and 250 ns at 30 to 60 MA levels. Our approach used a system analysis to locate stored energy minimums in the parameter space of driver [square root of] (LxC)-time and vacuum inductance. We developed mechanical sketches of point designs for Marx Generator Driver and Linear Transformer Driver options that appear to be feasible with reasonable improvements in capacitor and switch components and vacuum power flow inductance. We recommend DTRA conduct an R&D Program to develop fast and ultra-fast drivers and minimize vacuum inductance. These developments could also enable beneficial upgrades to existing simulator facilities. The original document contains color images.