Simulation of 3-Staged MPC Using Custom Characteristics of Magnetic Cores

A low inductance circuit has been fabricated in order to obtain shorter time to saturation during core unsaturation and current pulses with shorter widths during core saturation. B-H curves have been derived from the measured voltage and current waveforms. Characteristics of the magnetic core for pulsed-power generators have been investigated and the Electromagnetic Transient Program (EMTP) simulation has been carried out in order to determine the effects of leakage current on the energy efficiency of a 3-staged magnetic pulse compressor (MPC). As results, the derived B-H curves show the following characteristics: a high ratio of unsaturated to saturated permeability (mu_un/mu_sat), a maximum flux swing of about 2.55 T, a high ratio of remanent flux density to saturation magnetic flux density (B_r/B_s) and low core loss. And, it is found that mu_un increases with time to saturation and that mu_sat is strongly influenced by the stray inductances of the core. By applying custom characteristics to each stage in EMTP simulation, more practical energy transfer in MPC is obtained.