Superconductive Inductor-Converter Units for Pulsed Power Loads

Abstract

Pulsed power loads of increasing magnitudes up to several hundred megawatts or more must be supplied in the near future. High energy physics research laboratory experiments and the longer range foreseeable needs for successful nuclear fusion reactors such as the University of Wisconsin Tokamak reactor designs are representative examples. Such large pulsed power demands are at best undesirable if not prohibitive, even for the largest electric power systems. Techniques for storing energy in superconductive inductors employing thyristorized converters are described. Circuits which serve to minimize both the pulsed power and corresponding reactive volt-ampere requirements from the three phase power system are presented. Exploitation of these circuits and related concepts from the control standpoint should provide a basis for designing power conditioning interface equipment to meet the challenging requirements of very large pulsed power loads looking to the future.