Re: exploding wire

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: Gomez Addams <gomezaddams@xxxxxxxxx>


On Jun 15, 2006, at 12:11 PM, Tesla list wrote:

> Original poster: "Peter Terren" <pterren@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
>
> What was your bank inductance?

You didn't want to calculate it from the given stored energy and
voltage?  ;)
Each one was 1uF, 50kV, .01uH self-inductance, 300kA 100% voltage
reversal.
They were a very odd design, and were custom-designed and made by GE
for some
black project of Martin-Marietta's back in the 1980's.

> Mine is 200nH for 3 pulse caps with a 6 inch wire shorted across
> the output and a capacitance of 215uF measured by the ring
> frequency of 25kHz.

That's a huge amount of capacitance at such high voltages!  Are you
saying you determined the capacitance from the ring frequency, or do
they have nameplate ratings?

> Wire length varies for each cap is 21, 25 and 30 inches for the 3
> caps.  Individual nameplate inductance is 80 + 40 + 40nH = 160nH.

That seems like a fair amount.

> I haven't tested the currents with exploding wires yet but expect
> them to be in the order of  50 - 100kA based on experiences with
> measuring can crusher currents.

I think you may find that the currents are MUCH higher for exploding
wires, unless you add inductance or have a large loop in your current
path.

 - B(G)L