Compact, Submicrosecond Discharge Pulsed Power Capacitors

We propose to develop advanced high energy density and low dielectric loss film capacitors for the pulsed power electronics for high power microwave system. The film capacitors will be designed and fabricated utilizing the innovative SPS high energy density polymer blend capacitor films, state-of-the-art film metallization technology to promote self healing, and robust capacitor design and packaging. The novel capacitor dielectric combines the high energy density of a high dielectric constant polymer and the low dielectric loss of a second high temperature polymer. The capacitors can be operated at high voltage above 15 kilovolt, with submicrosecond discharge rate, a lifetime > 100,000 shots with self-healing feature, and energy density above 3 J/cc. BENEFIT: There are numerous applications that will benefit from improved energy storage capacitors with high voltage endurance, long lifetime, fast discharge, low loss, and high energy density. These capacitors can be used in pulse-forming networks (PFNs) for the conversion of prime electrical energy into the necessary short pulses of energy needed to energize loads such as high power microwave, directed energy, kinetic energy weapons, and high power microwave. The Army is developing future vehicles which require compact electrical power systems. The Navy is developing the all-electric ship in which the power requirements of future Naval vessels will not be as dominated by propulsion as current ships and it may be desirable to be able to transfer energy between uses. This will require storage and conditioning of vast amounts of power. In addition, weapons, catapult systems and other military technologies that demand pulses of power would require very large banks of dielectric capacitors. In parallel, the Air Force is developing more-electric-aircrafts and the Army is trying to develop all electric tanks. Compact, high-energy-density, pulse-power capacitors will be the enabling technology for all future weapon systems that the DoD plans to pursue. In addition, these advanced capacitor film can also be used for implantable cardiac defibrillators, external defibrillators, and capacitor bank for hybrid electric vehicles.