Title :
Explosive opening switch work at Westinghouse
Author :
Aivaliotis, E. ; Peterhans, M.
Author_Institution :
Westinghouse Electr. Corp., Sunnyvale, CA, USA
fDate :
1/1/1989 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
An explosive switch that commutated 315 kA into a resistor and a second version designed to switch up to 1 MA into an HPG (homopolar generator) -driven railgun system are presented. These switches are located very near the load and consist of a set of main busbars in a low-inductance configuration shorted by a thinner switch busbar. Linear-shaped charges are used to sever this switch busbar at several locations when a preselected current level is attained, commutating the current into the load. The feasibility of multishot explosive switches for electromagnetic-launch systems is also considered
Keywords :
busbars; electromagnetic launchers; homopolar generators; power supplies to apparatus; pulsed power technology; switches; 1 MA; 315 kA; current level; electromagnetic-launch systems; explosive opening switch; homopolar generator; multishot explosive switches; railgun system; thinner switch busbar; Circuits; Conducting materials; Explosives; Inductance; Projectiles; Railguns; Resistors; Switches; Testing; Timing;
Journal_Title :
Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on
