Solid-state resistor for pulsed power machines

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9514864-B2
Application number	US-201514619536-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 11, 2015
Priority date	Feb 24, 2014
Publication date	Dec 6, 2016
Grant date	Dec 6, 2016

Abstract

A flexible solid-state resistor comprises a string of ceramic resistors that can be used to charge the capacitors of a linear transformer driver (LTD) used in a pulsed power machine. The solid-state resistor is able to absorb the energy of a switch prefire, thereby limiting LTD cavity damage, yet has a sufficiently low RC charge time to allow the capacitor to be recharged without disrupting the operation of the pulsed power machine.

First claim

We claim:

1. A solid-state resistor for pulsed power machines, comprising:
a flexible string of at least two ceramic resistors, wherein the at least two ceramic resistors are connected in series;
an insulating outer shell enclosing the string of ceramic resistors; and
insulating oil contained within the outer shell and encapsulating the string of ceramic resistors.

2. The solid-state resistor of claim 1 , wherein the resistance of the resistor is greater than 50 kohm.

3. The solid-state resistor of claim 1 , wherein the insulating outer shell comprises a flexible polymer tube.

4. The solid-state resistor of claim 1 , wherein each ceramic resistor has an impulse energy rating of greater than 70 joules.

5. The solid-state resistor of claim 1 , wherein each ceramic resistor has an impulse voltage hold off of greater than 7,500 V in air.

6. The solid-state resistor of claim 1 , wherein the pulsed power machine comprises a linear transformer driver cavity comprising two or more bricks, each brick comprising two oppositely charged capacitors and one switch connected in series, wherein pairs of the two of more bricks are DC linked and pulse isolated during charging by a solid-state resistor between the capacitor terminals of each pair of bricks.

Assignees

• Sandia Corp

Inventors

• Stoltzfus Brian
• Savage Mark E
• Hutsel Brian Thomas
• Fowler William E
• Macrunnels Keven Alan
• Justus David
• Stygar William A

Classifications

• H01C13/02

  Structural combinations of resistors · CPC title

• H01C1/028 Primary

  the resistive element being embedded in insulation with outer enclosing sheath · CPC title

• H01C1/082

  using forced fluid flow · CPC title

• H03K3/53

  by the use of an energy-accumulating element discharged through the load by a switching device controlled by an external signal and not incorporating positive feedback (H03K3/335 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01C1/16

  Resistor networks not otherwise provided for · CPC title