Improvements to a small scale linear transformer driver

A linear transformer driver (LTD) is being constructed at Texas Tech University's Center for Pulsed Power and Power Electronics with the goal to achieve roughly 100 ns pulse width into an 18 Ohm load and energy densities similar to or greater than a previously designed and built 500 J compact Marx generator. A single experimental LTD stage, previously constructed, tested, and reported on by TTU, has undergone several improvements as well as the inclusion of additional diagnostics. Testing at a charging voltage of 14 kV into a 1.7 Ω resistive load has experimentally achieved a 10% to 90% risetime of ∼60 ns, peak voltage of 9.2 kV, peak current of 5.5 kA, and instantaneous power of 50.6 MW. Simulations of the LTD stage correlate closely with the experimental results. Extrapolating the simulations to the final desired charging voltage indicate peak voltages and peak currents exceeding 15 kV and 10 kA respectively, with instantaneous power greater than 150 MW from a single LTD stage. The design for a multi-stage LTD using magnetic cores with a flux swing of 6 kV-µs will be presented. Improvements in diagnostics and modeling of the LTD will also be discussed as well.