Optimum switching time for magnetic switches

The author discusses the optimization of magnetic switch core area and saturation time as a function of pulse compression ratio. Typical magnetic switch designs require the switch to remain unsaturated until peak charging voltage is reached. The author has found that the most efficient energy transfer occurs when the magnetic switch is allowed to saturate before peak voltage. The optimum saturation time both minimizes core area and maximizes energy. The author investigated the design of a system using one magnetic switch with a pulse compression of about 3 and discovered that maximum energy transfer occurred when the magnetic switch saturated at 84% of the discharge time. In this example, core area was reduced by 30%. Optimum switching time and core area reduction depend on the pulse compression of the magnetic switch