학술논문

High-Current Linear Transformer Driver Development at Sandia National Laboratories
Document Type
Periodical
Source
IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci. Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on. 38(4):704-713 Apr, 2010
Subject
Engineered Materials, Dielectrics and Plasmas
Fields, Waves and Electromagnetics
Laboratories
Pulse transformers
Pulse compression methods
Oil insulation
Fusion power generation
Power generation
Pulse generation
Radiography
Linear accelerators
Collaboration
Accelerators
high-current devices
linear transformer drivers (LTDs)
pulsed power
Language
ISSN
0093-3813
1939-9375
Abstract
Most of the modern high-current high-voltage pulsed power generators require several stages of pulse conditioning (pulse forming) to convert the multimicrosecond pulses of the Marx generator output to the 40–300-ns pulses required by a number of applications including X-ray radiography, pulsed high-current linear accelerators, $Z$-pinch, isentropic compression, and inertial fusion energy drivers. This makes the devices large, cumbersome to operate, and expensive. Sandia, in collaboration with a number of other institutions, is developing a new paradigm in pulsed power technology: the linear transformer driver (LTD) technology. This technological approach can provide very compact devices that can deliver very fast high-current and high-voltage pulses. The output pulse rise time and width can be easily tailored to the specific application needs. Trains of a large number of high-current pulses can be produced with variable interpulse separation from nanoseconds to milliseconds. Most importantly, these devices can be rep-rated to frequencies only limited by the capacitor specifications (usually 10 Hz). Their footprint, as compared with current day pulsed power accelerators, is considerably smaller since LTD do not require large oil and deionized water tanks. This makes them ideally suited for applications that require portability. In this paper, we present Sandia National Laboratories' broad spectrum of developmental effort to design construct and extensively validate the LTD pulsed power technology.