Performance of the 10-kv, 100-kA pulsed-power modules for the frx-c magnetic compression experiment

In this paper, we present detailed performance data collected from over a year's operation of the 25 and 50 kJoule pulsed-power capacitor-bank modules/sup 1/ developed for the Los Alamos magnetic fusion facility FRX-C/sup 2/. These modules supply the 5-MA magnet current needed for the compressional heating of compact toroid plasmoids. To date, 54 modules have been built and successfully tested at their full design rating: 100-kA peak output current at 10-kV charge, /spl tau//sub 1/4/ = 60 /spl mu/s (25-kJ module), or 110/spl mu/s (50-kJ module), crowbar L/R /spl les/ 1 ms. Modules are compact, cost about $5,000 each, and though designed for 25 or 50 kJ, they can be easily modified for other pulsed-power applications. Energy is stored in 25-kJ capacitors. Start and crowbar switching is performed with a pair of water-cooled, size-D ignitrons. As an alternative to an ignitron, crowbar switching by solid-state rectifiers has been successfully demonstrated. Current is conducted between components and to the load by parallel-plate transmission lines and by a parallel array of commercially-available coaxial cable.