Simulation of a pulse compression circuit incorporating a realistic magnetic switch model

摘要

This paper presents results from an investigation into the operation of multi-section magnetic-switch based compression lines with Dense Z-Pinch (DZP) loads. The use of a magnetic pulse compression line is envisaged in the pulsed power supply for a proposed DZP nuclear fusion reactor [1-3]. The recovery of the magnetic energy (1/2Li/sup 2/) stored in the pinch at peak current has been identified as an extremely desirable feature of the supply since this leads to roughly a 100% increase in reactor Q [4]. This paper describes the use of coaxial magnetic switch models which incorporate experimentally determined B-H curves and take account of the effect of non-uniform magnetic path length. A Melville line has been simulated incorporating the switch models and a model of the plasma load. Energy recovery fractions of approximately 50% are estimated when magnetic and load losses are taken into account.