| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/T01044/01 |
| Title: |
Magnetically Insulated High-voltage Transformers |
| Principal Investigator: |
Smith, Professor IR |
| Other Investigators: |
|
| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
|
| Project Partners: |
|
| Department: |
Electronic, Electrical & Systems Enginee |
| Organisation: |
Loughborough University |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 October 2004 |
Ends: |
30 September 2006 |
Value (£): |
175,545
|
| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
|
| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
|
| Related Grants: |
|
| Panel History: |
|
|
Summary on Grant Application Form |
|
Fundamentally the technology of much modern high-voltage, high power relies on magnetic self-insulation. The familiar plastic, oil or high-pressure gas insulators is replaced by a technique that diverts the electron flow in vacuum (that would otherwise be responsible for an electrical breakdown in a device) by means of the Lorenz force arising from the interaction with a magnetic field. If the magnetic field is produced by the current in the device itself, magnetic self-insulation is obtained.Previous work at Loughborough demonstrated - for the first time - that a magnetically self-insulated transformer is possible, although the levels of voltage and power were limited and the topology was greatly simplified. The present work will investigate the extension of both of these features to the levels required in most pulsed power applications and in a more realistic conductor arrangement, firstly by means of magnetic insulation and secondly by means of magnetic self insulation.In the initial phase of the research, the power from a capacitor bank will be used to excite a transformer through an opening switch consisting of an exploding multiple wire array. The secondary of the spirally-wound transformer will be in vacuum, and magnetic insulation will be achieved as a result of the magnetic field produced by a secondary capacitor bank discharged into an outer coil. Operation of this bank must clearly be synchronised with that of the main bank.In the second phase of the research, the output of the bank will need conditioning, in order to obtain an almost exponentially increase in both the current and its time rate of change. This current (which produces the insulating magnetic field that protects the transformer secondary winding from breakdown) will then have time to build up during the initial stage of the discharge, and so produces a magnetic field that is sufficiently strong to withstand the secondary voltage induced by its own time rate of change.
|
|
Key Findings |
|
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
|
|
Potential use in non-academic contexts |
|
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
|
|
Impacts |
|
| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
|
| Date Materialised |
|
|
|
|
Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
|
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
|
| Project URL: |
|
| Further Information: |
|
| Organisation Website: |
http://www.lboro.ac.uk |