A 0.5-MJ 18-kV Module of Capacitive Energy Storage

A module of the capacitive energy storage is designed for experiments with high-current electrical discharges in dense media. The module is remotely controlled and consists essentially of eight capacitor cells with semiconductor switches built around reverse-switching dynistors (RSDs). It includes a charger with a high-frequency inverter, a protective contactor with normally closed high-voltage contacts, cell RSD switch controls, and control and diagnostic equipment provided with a programmable logic controller. The semiconductor switches in the capacitor cells are triggered by light pulses transmitted from a remote-control panel over eight fiber-optic cables. Information exchange between the module control and diagnostic system and the remote terminal is realized likewise over two fiber-optic cables. The storage is designed to operate in a programmable discharge mode in which the semiconductor switches in the capacitor cells are activated by a preset time-sequence program. The maximum current pulse amplitude of 400 kA at the module output is reached under synchronous discharge of all eight cells in the short-circuit mode. In these conditions, the pulse rise time is 150 μs. The volume of the capacitor module is 1.3 m³ .