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RANCHERO EXPLOSIVE PULSED POWER EXPERIMENTS
J. H. Goforth, W. L. Atchison, W. J. Deninger, C. M. Fowler, D. H. Herrera, J. C. King, E. A. Lopez,
H. Oona, R. E. Reinovsky, J. L. Stokes, F. C. Sena, L. J. Tabaka, D. G. Tasker, D. T. Torres, I. R.
Lindemuth, R. J. Faehl, R. K. Keinigs, A. J Taylor, G. Rodriguez, D. M. Oro, and O. F. Garcia, J. V.
Parker, Los Alamos National Laboratory, W. B. Broste, Bechtel Nevada.Introduction
We are developing the Ranchero high explosive pulsed
power (HEPP) system to power cylindrically imploding
solid-density liners for hydrodynamics experiments. Our
near-term goal is to conduct experiments in the regime
pertinent to the Atlas capacitor banks. That is, we will
attempt to implode liners of ~50 g mass at velocities
approaching 15 km/sec. The basic building block of the
HEPP system is a coaxial generator with a 304.8 mm
diameter stator, and an initial armature diameter of 152 mm.
The armature is expanded by a high explosive (HE) charge
detonated simultaneously along its axis. We have reported a
variety of experiments conducted with generator modules 43
cm long and have presented an initial design for
hydrodynamic liner experiments4. In this paper we give a
synopsis of our first system test, and a status report on the
development of a generator module that is 1.4 m long.
Implosion System Test
Our first system test had the goal of approaching 10 km/sec
implosion velocity for an aluminum liner of 40g. In addition,
this test demonstrated our power flow design concept, which
includes some techniques planned for the Atlas capacitor
bank. Figure 1 shows the apparatus in transit to the HE
firing point. Mounted on a trailer for transportation are the
generator, fuse opening switch (FOS), closing switch plates,
conical power flow section, and the outer conductor of the
implosion section. Extending outside of the picture are
racks for mounting three 450 kV x-ray heads and
accompanying explosive-proof film cassettes. The generator
is a 43 cm long Ranchero module, and the FOS is 50pm
thick copper, 30 cm long and 1.86 m wide. The closing
switch plates have 12 detonator-actuated switches arranged
symmetrically to puncture a 1.25 mm polyethylene sheet that
can be seen protruding from the plates. The performance of
these HEPP components has been previously described4.
Fig. 2 is an illustration of the system showing the pulsed
power components described above, as well as power flow
and diagnostics features. Fig. 3 is a blow-up of the load
region. Mounted inside the liner are optical pin and VISAR
diagnostics. dB/dt probes near the liner give information
about current symmetry and the voltage integrity of the
insulator, which is immediately adjacent to the liner in this
design. Fig. 4 shows the pulsed power results from the test.
An initial current of 4 MA was delivered to Ranchero, and aFig. 1. Photograph of first successful Ranchero liner
test. The 43 cm generator is the cylindrical component
in right of picture, with its smaller diameter armature
protruding furthest to the right. Polyethylene insulation
protrudes from closing switch plates in the middle, and
the next component to the left is the FOS section. The
conical transmission line leads to the small diameter
implosion section. The racks support three 450 kV x
ray heads (out of the picture) and their associated HE
proof film cassettes, one of which is seen below and to
the left of the load section.
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Goforth, J. H.; Atchison, W. L.; Deninger, W. J.; Fowler, C. M.; Herrera, D. H.; King, J. C. et al. Ranchero Explosive Pulsed Power Experiments, article, June 27, 1999; New Mexico. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc711358/m1/4/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.