NDLI: Design and construction of a two-stage opening switch

Content Provider	IEEE Xplore Digital Library
Author	Rech, B. Zowarka Jr., R.
Copyright Year	1965
Abstract	Homopolar generators (HPGs) are modern day energy stores (megajoules) capable of large currents (megamps). The generators are typically low voltage and large capacitance, disallowing loads requiring fast rise times to be driven directly by the HPG. An opening switch must be provided to first, in the closed state, transfer energy from the high current source to an inductive energy store and then open to commutate the current to the load. To charge an inductive energy store with large currents for long times (hundreds of milliseconds) indicates a massive switch with many low resistance contacts. At the same time the switch must commutate current to the load in a short time interval (tens of microseconds) indicating a light, fast-acting device. A two-stage opening switch addresses these two conflicting requirements. The first stage is a massive mechanical switch of coaxial geometry with many low resistance galvanic contacts, which commutates through a low inductance to an explosive element second stage. The second-stage switch is then interrupted explosively to provide the microsecond commutation. The design, manufacture, and testing of the two-stage opening switch were performed at the Center for Electromechanics at The University of Texas at Austin (CEM-UT) Taylor Hall facility in Austin, TX, using a compact homopolar generator (CHPG) and a five-turn coaxial, cryogenic inductor as the pulsed power supply. Initial testing included mechanical actuations and electrical measurements to verify fundamental operation and proper assembly. Testing continued with the CHPG charging the inductor through the switch statically (no commutation) to characterize the current carrying capability of the primary galvanic contacts. Next, tests to check the ability of the first stage to commutate to the second stage by sliding the primary contacts onto the armature insulator were conducted. The fourth phase of testing was a series of two-stage (double) commutations to a fixed load to characterize performance and timing of triggers, voltage hold-off capability, and fixed load commutation times. The fifth and last phase of testing involved the two-stage switch commutating current to a variable impedance (railgun) load.
Sponsorship	IEEE Magnetics Society
Starting Page	1706
Ending Page	1711
Page Count	6
File Size	519889
File Format	PDF
ISSN	00189464
Volume Number	22
Issue Number	6
Language	English
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
Publisher Date	1986-11-01
Publisher Place	U.S.A.
Access Restriction	One Nation One Subscription (ONOS)
Rights Holder	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
Subject Keyword	Switches Testing Contact resistance Coaxial components Galvanizing Inductors Pulsed power supplies Low voltage Capacitance Geometry
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Sl.	Authority	Responsibilities	Communication Details
1	Ministry of Education (GoI), Department of Higher Education	Sanctioning Authority	https://www.education.gov.in/ict-initiatives
2	Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	Host Institute of the Project: The host institute of the project is responsible for providing infrastructure support and hosting the project	https://www.iitkgp.ac.in
3	National Digital Library of India Office, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	The administrative and infrastructural headquarters of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in
4	Project PI / Joint PI	Principal Investigator and Joint Principal Investigators of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in Prof. Saswat Chakrabarti will be added soon
5	Website/Portal (Helpdesk)	Queries regarding NDLI and its services	support@ndl.gov.in
6	Contents and Copyright Issues	Queries related to content curation and copyright issues	content@ndl.gov.in
7	National Digital Library of India Club (NDLI Club)	Queries related to NDLI Club formation, support, user awareness program, seminar/symposium, collaboration, social media, promotion, and outreach	clubsupport@ndl.gov.in
8	Digital Preservation Centre (DPC)	Assistance with digitizing and archiving copyright-free printed books	dpc@ndl.gov.in
9	IDR Setup or Support	Queries related to establishment and support of Institutional Digital Repository (IDR) and IDR workshops	idr@ndl.gov.in

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