Magnetically insulated pulsed transformers

This paper describes the successful development of light and compact magnetically insulated pulsed MV transformers. One alternative uses a magnetic field generated by its own primary winding current, thereby forming a magnetically self-insulated system. The other uses an externally injected high magnetic field to provide magnetic insulation by preventing surface flashover. The difficult task of modelling the transformers required 3D electric and magnetic field computation, together with state-of-the-art calculation of the electron flow in the vacuum. Based on the results obtained to date, scaling-up to multi mega-volt transformers can readily be envisaged. This technology could have a significant potential impact on multi-MV autonomous and compact pulsed power radiation generators