Electrical contacts and conductors for megaamperes pulse currents

The operation of electrical contacts and conductors in output circuits of pulse current sources, which generate current pulses of several megaamperes and durations of tens or hundreds microseconds, are considered. The admissible linear current density in conductors is defined from condition of the thermal stability of polymeric insulation. Such density is 160 kA/cm for steel, copper as well as 140 kA/cm for aluminum. It considers the features of heavy pulse currents passing through the demountable contacts as follows: the skin-effect; the contraction of current lines around the contact points; and appearance of large repulsing forces between contact surfaces. The design of our demountable contacts and methods of their assembly provide the operation of contacts with 50-80 kA/cm linear current density. The mechanical stability of conductors at the heavy pulse currents can be ensured with mechanical or inertial confinement of conductors. In the first case it is necessary that the kinetic energy of conductors moving after the pulse completion does not have to exceed an admissible work of elastic deformations of fastening parts. In the second case it is required that the movement of conductors should be rather small. The examples of providing of conductors mechanical stability in the case of megaamperes currents are considered.