MEGA-AMP OPENING SWITCH

THE REQUIREMENTS FOR BOTH INDUCTIVE STORES AND PULSE-SHAPING ELEMENTS ARE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MEET IN A SINGLE SWITCH DESIGN, PARTICULARLY IF IT IS TO BE IMPLEMENTED AS A SUPERCONDUCTING SWITCH OR A STANDARD (OR NORMAL-CONDUCTOR) SWITCH. A REPRATED MEGA-AMP OPENING SWITCH IS BEING DEVELOPED TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. THE CONCEPT UTILIZE MACHINE GUN STYLE FED CYLINDRICAL FOIL WHOSE PRESSURE INDUCED RUPTURE PRODUCES A CRACK WHICH PROPAGATES AT THE SPEED OF SOUND. THE CRACK REDIRECTS THE CURRENT TO A LONGER PATH WHOSE THERMALLY INDUCED RESISTNCE EXCURSION COMMUTES THE CURRENT TO A WATER COOLED METAL OXIDEVARISTOR FOR THE DISSIPATION OF THE COMMUTATION ENERGY. A MATHEMATICAL MODEL OF THE SWITCH IS BEING GENERATED AND CRITICAL PARAMETERSANALYZED. A MEANS OF REPRATING THE SWITCH IS BEING EXAMINED AND THE MECHANICAL FEASIBILITY OF MANUFACTURING THE SWITCHES ASSESSED. IN ADDITION TO APPLICATION TO DRIVE ELECTRO-THERMAL, ELECTRO-MAGNETIC, AND COIL GUNS, THE SWITCH CAN BE DESIGNED TO CARRY VERY HIGH CURRENTS FOR ESSENTIALLY UNLIMITED TIME IN A SUPERCONDUCTING ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM.