Larry X. Schneider

A new capability to detect and locate insulation defects in complex wiring systems

Pulse arrested spark discharge (PASD) is an effective means to detect and locate a variety of insulation defects in complex wiring geometries such as breached insulation, chafing, and physically small insulation cracks. It is highly immune to line impedance variations, an important property in aircraft wiring systems, and has been shown to be nondestructive to electrical insulation materials. Because of the simplicity of the PASD concept, the low energy PASD pulser and diagnostics can be readily implemented into a portable, briefcase-sized diagnostic system. Although this patented technique will likely evolve as it enters into field applications, it is capable of making a near-term impact on the ability of inspection and maintenance organizations to detect and locate potentially hazardous insulation defects.

Genesis: A 5-MA Programmable Pulsed-Power Driver for Isentropic Compression Experiments

Enabling technologies are being developed at Sandia National Laboratories to improve the performance and flexibility of compact pulsed power drivers for magnetically driven dynamic materials properties research. We have designed a modular system capable of precision current pulse shaping through the selective triggering of pulse forming components into a disk transmission line feeding a strip line load. The system is comprised of two hundred and forty 200 kV, 60 kA modules in a low inductance configuration capable of producing 250–350 kbar of magnetic pressure in a 1.75 nH, 20 mm wide strip line load. The system, called Genesis, measures approximately 5 meters in diameter and is capable of producing shaped currents greater than 5 MA. This performance is enabled through the use of a serviceable solid dielectric insulator system which minimizes the system inductance and reduces the stored energy and operating voltage requirements. Genesis can be programmed by the user to generate precision pulse shapes with rise times of 220–500 ns, allowing characterization of a range of materials from tungsten to polypropylene. This paper provides an overview of the Genesis design including the use of genetic optimization to shape currents through selective module triggering.

Status of repetitive pulsed power at Sandia National Laboratories

Multi-kilojoule repetitive pulsed power technology moved from a laboratory environment into its first commercial application in 1997 as a driver for ion beam surface treatment. Sandias RHEPP II (Repetitive High energy Pulsed Power), a repetitive 2.5 kJ/pulse electron beam accelerator, has supported the development of radiation treatment processes for polymers and elastomers, food products, and high dose-rate effects testing for defense programs since early 1996. Dos Lineas, an all solid-state testbed, has demonstrated synchronization techniques for parallel magnetic modulator systems and is continuing the development of design standards for long lifetime magnetic switches and voltage adders at a shot rate capability that exceeds 5/spl times/10/sup 6/ pulses per day. This paper describes progress in multi-kilojoule class repetitive pulsed power technology development, magnetic switching technology for modulator applications, and future research and development directions.

Magnetic modulator lifetime tests using the Sandia reliability test-bed

Experimental results are presented that provide design guidelines for high repetition rate, long-life pulsed power magnetic modulators. Fault mechanisms that occurred during a series of 32 million shots at 100 pps, with continuous runs of up to 5.7 million shots (/spl sim/16 hours) on the Dos Lineas magnetic modulator are described. An effort to explain the fault mechanisms and how to avoid them is made. Factors that limit the long life performance of a variety of components including switches, cables and oil are encountered. The high reliability of the magnetic switch technology is demonstrated.

Genesis: A 5 MA programmable pulsed power driver for Isentropic Compression Experiments

Enabling technologies are being developed at Sandia National Laboratories to improve the performance and flexibility of compact pulsed-power drivers for magnetically driven dynamic materials properties research. We have designed a modular system that is capable of precision current pulse shaping through the selective triggering of pulse-forming components into a disk transmission line feeding a strip line load. The system is composed of 240 200-kV 60-kA modules in a low-inductance configuration that is capable of producing 250-350 kbar of magnetic pressure in a 1.75-nH 20-mm-wide strip line load. The system, called Genesis , measures approximately 5 m in diameter and is capable of producing shaped currents that are greater than 5 MA. This performance is enabled through the use of a serviceable solid-dielectric insulator system which minimizes the system inductance and reduces the stored energy and operating voltage requirements. Genesis can be programmed by the user to generate precision pulse shapes with rise times of 220-500 ns, allowing characterization of a range of materials from tungsten to polypropylene. This paper provides an overview of the Genesis design, including the use of genetic optimization to shape currents through selective module triggering.

Status of genesis a 5 MA programmable pulsed power driver

Genesis is a compact pulsed power platform designed by Sandia National Laboratories to generate precision shaped multi-MA current waves with a rise time of 200–500 ns. In this system, two hundred and forty, 200 kV, 80 kA modules are selectively triggered to produce 280 kbar of magnetic pressure (>500 kbar pressure in high Z materials) in a stripline load for dynamic materials properties research. This new capability incorporates the use of solid dielectrics to reduce system inductance and size, programmable current shaping, and gas switches that must perform over a large range of operating conditions. Research has continued on this technology base with a focus on demonstrating the integrated performance of key concepts into a Genesis-like prototype called Protogen. Protogen measures approximately 1.4 m by 1.4 m and is designed to hold twelve Genesis modules. A fixed inductance load will allow rep-rate operation for component reliability and system lifetime experiments at the extreme electric field operating conditions expected in Genesis.

Lifetime testing of commercially available 3.0 /spl mu/f, 100 kv pulsed-power capacitors

The lifetime characteristics of a small sample group of commercially available 3.0-/spl mu/F, 100-kV pulsed discharge capacitors have been determined in an automated test facility. Both Maxwell Laboratories and Aerovox, Inc., capacitors were tested to failure to establish a data base on these new designs, which are a direct physical replacement for the present 1.3-/spl mu/F, 100-kV, Syllac-style capacitor [1] that are in wide spread use at Sandia and in the pulsed-power community. In conjunction with the lifetime testing, a bipolar, 30-stage, 6-MV, Marx generator was constructed with these capacitors using conventional PBFA-II hardware and the Physics International Company, model T-508A spark gap. Capacitor failure mechanisms and lifetime statistics will be discussed. Electrode erosion rates in the 508A switches will be presented for the conventional brass electrodes and a copper/tungsten replacement set.

Status of Genesis a 5-MA Programmable Pulsed Power Driver

Genesis is a compact pulsed power platform designed by Sandia National Laboratories to generate precision shaped multi-MA current waves with a rise time of 200-500 ns. In this system, two hundred and forty, 200 kV, 80 kA modules are selectively triggered to produce 280 kbar of magnetic pressure (>;500 kbar pressure in high Z materials) in a stripline load for dynamic materials properties research. This new capability incorporates the use of solid dielectrics to reduce system inductance and size, programmable current shaping, and gas switches that must perform over a large range of operating conditions. Research has continued on this technology base with a focus on demonstrating the integrated performance of key concepts into a Genesis-like prototype called Protogen. Protogen measures approximately 1.4 m by 1.4 m and is designed to hold 12 Genesis modules. A fixed inductance load will allow rep-rate operation for component reliability and system lifetime experiments at the extreme electric field operating conditions expected in Genesis.

Impact of time-varying loads on the programmable pulsed power driver called genesis

The success of dynamic materials properties research at Sandia National Laboratories has led to research into ultra-low impedance, compact pulsed power systems capable of multi-MA shaped current pulses with rise times ranging from 220–500 ns. The Genesis design consists of two hundred and forty 200 kV, 80 kA modules connected in parallel to a solid dielectric disk transmission line and is capable of producing 280 kbar of magnetic pressure (>500 kbar pressure in high Z materials) in a 1.75 nH, 20 mm wide stripline load. Stripline loads operating under these conditions expand during the experiment resulting in a time-varying load that can impact the performance and lifetime of the system. This paper provides analysis of time-varying stripline loads and the impact of these loads on system performance. Further, an approach to reduce dielectric stress levels through active damping is presented as a means to increase system reliability and lifetime.

Assessment of the non-destructive nature of PASD on wire insulation integrity.

The potential of a new cable diagnostic known as Pulse-Arrested Spark Discharge technique (PASD) is being studied. Previous reports have documented the capability of the technique to locate cable failures using a short high voltage pulse. This report will investigate the impact of PASD on the sample under test. In this report, two different energy deposition experiments are discussed. These experiments include the PASD pulse ({approx}6 mJ) and a high energy discharge ({approx}600 mJ) produced from a charged capacitor source. The high energy experiment is used to inflict detectable damage upon the insulators and to make comparisons with the effects of the low energy PASD pulse. Insulator breakdown voltage strength before and after application of the PASD pulse and high energy discharges are compared. Results indicate that the PASD technique does not appear to degrade the breakdown strength of the insulator or to produce visible damage. However, testing of the additional materials, including connector insulators, may be warranted to verify PASDs non-destructive nature across the full spectrum of insulators used in commercial aircraft wiring systems.