Design And Test Of A Continuous Duty Pulsed AC Generator

Specially designed synchronous ac generators can provide a high energy pulse power source capable of supplying energy to various pulse forming networks. One such generator, which is the subject of this paper, is presently being used as the prime power source for the Repetitive High Energy Pulsed Power Module (RHEPP)[1] at Sandia National Laboratories. The generator has been designed to operate continuously in two distinct modes. In the first mode the generator can supply 50-kJ, 9.5-kV, 1,052-amp, 4-msec pulses continuously (500 kW average power) with a rep rate from 1 to 10 Hz. In the second mode, 20.8-kJ, 9.5-kV, 1,052-amp, 4-msec pulses can be supplied continuously (5,000 kW average paver) at a rep rate of 240 pulses per second. The latter mode is being used in the RHEPP application at a reduced energy and voltage level. The generator was successfully tested in 9/89 to verify the performance at its maximum rating. Test results are presented along with details of the generator design and its applications.