Three-Dimensional Model of the Saturn Accelerator Water Tri-Plate Transmission Line Connection to the Vacuum Insulator Stack

• Published in: 2019 IEEE Pulsed Power & Plasma Science (PPPS) pp. 1 - 4
• Main Authors: Struve, K., Ulmen, B.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 01-06-2019
• Subjects: Cathodes; Current measurement; Integrated circuit modeling; Load modeling; Power transmission lines; Transmission line measurements; Voltage measurement
• ISSN: 2158-4923
• DOI: 10.1109/PPPS34859.2019.9009752

Calculation of the power flow from the 36 pulse forming lines to the vacuum region of Saturn has always been complicated by the three-dimensional structure of the rod and bottle connections to the vacuum insulator stack. Recently we have completed a 3-D calculation of the bottle configuration and found a large error in previous impedance estimates. We have used this calculation to determine impedance and to construct a 2-D model of each of the 36 bottles of each level of the insulator using the Transmission Line Matrix (TLM) technique. These TLM models are then used in a 2-D model for each of the three levels of the insulator. Each model starts at a measured forward-going pulse in the water tri-plate and ends at the Brehmstrahlung load at the center of the machine. Because of long transmission line lengths and short pulse lengths, each level can be considered independent of the others. A combination of the three models then represents a quasi-3-D model of the load region of the machine. The results of these calculations agree well with measurement and thereby provide confidence in simulation predictions for those areas where measurements are not possible. Details of the 3-D bottle calculation, the TLM model, and results of the load region simulations using this model are given.