K. Feser. M. Modrusan. H.

Sutter

HAEFELY

Steep front impulse generators for EMP-simulation

E 1-42

STEEP FRONT IMPULSE GENERATORS

K. Feser, M. Modrusan, H. Sutter Emile Haefely & Cie, Basel, Switzerland

Abstract - Lightning strokes or flashovers of insulation can result in impulse voltages with very short front-times of some tens of ns. Power apparatus are exposed to these voltages. Similar steep impulses are induced in cables of substations, destroying electronic instruments connected to these cables. Another application field using steep front impulses is the electromagnetic compatibility testing of medical electronics, computers or military electronics.

The paper discusses different practical solutions for steep front impulse generators. Depending on the application it is important to have a complete encapsulated generator or a mobile generator. The generators can be built with only one defined impulse wave shape, e.g. 10/200 ns, or with a high flexibility in impulse shapes ranging from some tens of ns to ~s. Three different constructions of steep front high voltage impulse generators will be discussed and the results presented.

1. Introduction

In nature and due to technics, short duration electromagnetic transient phenomena might occur, influencing especially our advanced electronics in all fields of technology, including physical and medical applications. As origin of heavy electromagnetic transient phenomena are to be considered

- natural lightning discharges,

- artificial simulation of lightning dis-

charges in high-voltage laboratories,

- short-circuits or switching procedures in

high-voltage power systems, - nuclear explosions.

The common results of all these phenomena are electromagnetic pulses (EMP), comprising rise times of a few ns up to several ~ens of ns and decay times of several 100 ns to a rew us ..

Malfunctioning or destruction of components respectively, due to electromagnetic transient phenomena have increased notably, bound to the spreading electronics allover the technics, such as data processing systems, electronic protection in power systems, electronically controlled weapon systems, aircraft electronics, telecommunication technique or electronics in medical applications. In order to enable the development of vital systems being immun from these electromagnetic pulses, nowaday especially in the military range, but in an increasing manner also for energy technique and telecommwnications, complete systems are subjected to an electromagnetic impulse test.

Now two directions of development can be observed

a) development of testing apparatus, which can be connected directly to the data lines,measuring lines or to the mains supply of electronic devices and

b) development of EMP simulators rendering possible to test complete systems, emitting the EMP to the system to be tested by means of antennas.

2. Requirements on EMP simulators

Hereafter some requirements imposed on EIVJP simulators, as well as practical realization on three different types are presented.

Today's requirements on electromagnetic pulses, discussed mainly for military applications are

electrical field strength : rise time (10-90%) Ta time to half-value Th: a)

b)

50 ... 100 kV/m < 10 ns approx. 200 ns 10 ... 20 us

Besides these extreme requirements appearing first of all during nuclear explosions, a wider spectrum with rise times of a few ns to some 100 ns and times to half-values of a few 100 ns up to ~s is discussed in energy technics. For both cases of application, EMP simulators with a nominal voltage of 500 kV were developped.

3. Basic-circuit diagram

Fig. 1 shows the equivalent circuit diagram of the EMP simulator including antenna. A "standard" multi-stage Marx generator is charged by means of a dc voltage source (100 kV) within approx. 30 s. This modular design Marx generator charges, timed by a trigger system, a low-inductance capacitor within a few 100 ns. As soon as the voltage on the low-inductance capacitor Cn reaches the peak value, the spark gap FSn of the peaking circuit is triggered (fig. 2a). Thus, at the output of the peaking circuit a voltage pulse is available, the rise time of which is given by the spark gap FSn along with the low-inductance capacitor. This impulse, in case of military application, is applied to an antenna featuring an impedance

pof approx. 100 n, being terminated at its

end with Ra =" .

The discharging time constant of the

pulse is Ra' Cn, whereby discharging without crowbar spark gap results in a certain voltage value, determined by the voltage division between Rs and Ra (fig. 2b). The final discharging occurs at a time constant Cs • (Rs + Ra) .

In order to produce a voltage impulse without succeeding tail, simultaneously with the triggering of the spark gap of the

1

EMP-Simulator

Antenna with terminating resistors

_-----A.~-_

"'\

a

c

e

f

9

Fig. 1 - Circuit diagram of the EMp-simulator (a - regulating unit, b - dc charging unit,

c - impulse charging .unit (n-stage Marx generator), d - crowbar, e - measuring unit, f - peaking circuit, g - antenna with terminating resistor).

peaking circuit, the crowbar spark gap is triggered as well, short-circuiting somewhat delayed the main generator. Thus, on the antenna an unipolar steep front pulse with a certain rise time and a defined time to halfvalue arises. Fig. 2 shows the electromagnetic pulse at the terminating resistor Ra without (c) and with (d) crowbar spark gap.

u

f

a.

1 jJ.s/unit

b.

1 jJ.s/unit

~ t

u

t

-+ t ~ It.- 100 ns

~ t

~ I- 100 ns

c.

d.

Fig. 2 - Voltage shapes

a) at capacitance Cn of the peaking circuit, without crowbar switch

b) & c) at the output of the peaking circuit after the firing of FSn, without crowbar

d) at the output of the peaking circuit after firing of FSn, with crowbar.

For testing electronic systems connected to cable systems, a steep front impulse having a time to half-value of several tens of microseconds can be realized with the same generator. This EMP can also be used e.g. for the simulation of low altitude nuclear explosions. In this operation mode, the resistor Rs is short-circuited and the sparkgap FSn of the peaking circuit is triggered in the instant of the fastest voltage rise

du/dt, thus commutating the current into the load circuit. Hereby the crowbar spark gap is not used. The rise time Ta, in either coupling arrangement, mainly depends upon the inductance of the peaking circuit, along with the breakdown-time of the spark gap FSn in this very circuit. The time to half-value of the short pulse is given by the time constant Cn' Ra whereas the time to halfvalue of the long pulse is determined by the time constant Cs' Ra. A calculation of the voltage shapes for these circuits, taking into consideration also the influence of the spark gap, is given e.g. in /1/.

Charging the capacitance in the peaking circuit by means of an impulse, offers the advantage that both required times to halfvalue can be generated in one system. Furthermore the dimensions of the system can be kept relatively small, since no important dc or ac voltages are to be governed. For short times to half-value additionally it is possible to increase the output voltage notably by inserting inductancies into the im-

pulse charging circuit. .

Depending upon the field of application following supplementary requirements might have to be observed besides the technical specifications to be met

- mobile execution with low-weight single

parts,

- encapsulated outdoor design,

- reproducibility of impulses.

Particulary the whole arrangement of the peaking circuit, its components, the lowinductance capacitor, and last but not least, the spark gap of the peaking circuit require full consideration /1/. According to Toepler's spark law, the breakdown-time Tz of a spark gap will be the shorter, the higher the field strength is, i.e. for homogeneous spark gaps, the higher the ambient pressure of the spark gap is. At high voltages (above 500 kV), homogeneous spark gaps can be built only as multiple spark gaps. Since expenses for triggering of triggered spark gaps increase with increasing pressure, the latter one should not exceed 10 bars due to economical reasons. In case of non-triggered spark gap~ dispersion as high as 40% is to be taken into account, which means that reproducibility of the EMP is not guaranteed.

2

4. Design examples

4.1. SF6-insulated peaking circuit

a

Fig. 3a shows an SF6-insulated EMP generator for 500 kV. The charging impulse generator is an air-insulated Marx generator featuring a stage voltage of 100 kV. Fig. )b and )c are the voltage oscillograms of this EMP installation, measured directly at the output of the EMP generator by means of an ohmic divider with an impedance of 140 Q. For practical application, instead of the ohmic divider, e.g. an antenna is used. The 500 kV spark gap for the peaking circuit, a triggerable single-stage spark gap, which can be released up to 7 bars, is adjustable from outside. The spark gap is housed separately from the low inductance foil capaci-

a

b

c

u

i

~ t

Fig. ) - SF6-insulated peaking circuit with air-insulated impulse generator

a) general view of the EMP simulator without antenna (Un = 500 kV)

b) voltage rise (20 ns/unit) and

c) voltage drop of the short pulse, measured at the output of the peaking circuit, with terminating resistor of 140 Q (100 ns/unit).

tor (Cn = 2,) nF). The whole test system is designed such, that it can easily be dismantled into component gr-oup s and within approx. 1 day reerected on site. The standard Marx generator can also be modified for testing SF6-installations. This combined application is advantageous for testing power systems, since in a substation, after

high voltage testing of the substation, the \.J

interference test of wiring and electronic devices can be performed as well.

Evaluation of fig. ) for the short duration impulse results in a rise time of approx. 12 ns. Considering the rise time of the oscilloscope (8 ns) and of the voltage divider (4 ns), the calcUlated actual rise time of the EMP is approx. 7,5 ns.

When connecting an antenna, this rise time will become somewhat lower, because the characteristic impedance of the antenna with regard to the rise time, can be assumed to be practically free of inductance. By means of this generator, it ought be possible to realize rise times around 5 ns. A major problem thereby is the interference-free measurement of these ~ulses.

b

u

i

--+ t

c

Fig. 4 - Air insulated peaking circuit with additional R-C elements

a) view of the peaking circuit (Un d 500 kV)

b) voltage rise, measured at the output of the peaking circuit

c) voltage drop for case of long pulse, measured at the output

3

(10 ns/unit)

of the peaking circuit (1 f.!.s/unit).

a

L

5m

1m .1

Fig. 5 - Fully SF6-insulated, metal-clad EMP simulator

a) Scetch of the whole arrangement of the EMP-simulator

b) Photo of the inside arrangement of the Marx generator

4.2. Air-insulated peaking circuit of high versability

As for the field of research-work one specific impulse shape often will not be sufficient, but various pulse shapes are required, an air~insulated peaking circuit for 500 kV was developped /1/. This peaking circuit also is fed-in by an air insulated Marx generator, i.e. the supply system is identical to example one. The peaking circuit, since it is built in air, is about 3 times larger than the SF6-insulated circuit for the same voltage of 500 kV (fig. 4a). The larger volume implies an increased inductance of the peaking circuit and therefore

a longer rise time Ta. The shortest rise time, which can be obtained with this generator is approx. 22 ns (fig. 4b). Longer rise times of 50 ns, 100 ns or 200 ns can be realized with additional R-C elements, being connected after the spark gap of the peaking circuit.

The spark gap of the peaking circuit is a controlled, triggerable multiple spark gap, by means of which the voltage in air can be governed easier. The spark gap is built twopart, thus allowing to optimize for lower voltages (below 250 kV) the inductance of the peaking circuit. Fig. 4c gives the fast impulse with a rise time of 22 ns, combined with a time to half-value of 12 ~s. For this mode of operation, the accurate triggering time of the spark gap of the peaking circuit is important. As early or too late breakdown of the spark gap yield dips or slow rise times around the peak value of the pulse.

4.3. Entirely SF6-insulated metal-clad EMP simulator

For certain cases of application it is advantageous to build the whole voltage generating system into a metallic encapsulation. This will be an interesting solution if also the testing room is practically of the encapsulated design. Fig. 5a shows a scetch of the complete arrangement, whereby the electrical arrangement was chosen again identicru to the preceeding examples. The optimal inductance configuration of the peaking circuit allows for rise times of approx. 5 ns at

500 kV with this installation. For this type of realization, the normal Marx generator is the most complicated unit for designing. The application of entirely encapsulated simulators mainly comes into question for high voltages. Fig. 5b shows the inside arrangement of a 1,4 MY generator for feed-in of a

b

.p eak i ng circuit. At these high voltages above 1 MY it is advantageous to employ a triggered multiple spark gap in the peaking circuit /1/. Thus it is possible to use triggerable pressures in the spark gap, while the field in the spark gap to some extent still is homogeneous. The feed-in generator is dimensioned such (diameter approx. 2,5 m, length approx. 5 m), that it is suitable for road transportation and consequently can serve as a mobile EMP installation.

5. Summary

After a short survey of the requirements on EMP simulators and the many possibilities of application, three alternatives of design are discussed. Short, as well as long times to half-value can be generated by any of the presented EMP simulators. Besides two airinsulated feed-in generators, an entirely encapsulated installation is discussed. Apart from the different techniques used, the three installations offer different comfort what versatility concerns. Each one is optimized for the corresponding case of application. Depending upon the kind of execution, shortest rise times of 5 to 20 ns at 500 kV can be reached. At 1 MY rise times of roughly 10 ns are expected. By this the desired 50 kV/m can be realized in 10 to 20 m high horizontal antennas with terminating resistors. In case the EMP ought to be emitted through a vertical antenna, the terminating resistor could be placed directly on the generator.

6. Reference

/1/ H. Karner : Erzeugung steilster StoBspannungen hoher Amplitude. Bull SEV 58 (1967)24 S.1096-1110.

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TELEGRAMS MICARTA BASEL E 1-42 2. Edition