VARIABLE CAPACITANCE ELECTROSTATIC ELECTRICAL PULSE GENERATOR

O. P. Breaux Air Force Avionics Laboratory Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433

ABSTRACT Variable capacitance e l e c t r o s t a t i c generators are capable of rugged e f f i c i e n t operation and high power output. An exposition is given of a variable capacitance e l e c t r o s t a t i c energy conversion system, employing self-contained e x c i t a t i o n , for e l e c t r i c a l pulsed power generation, i n cluding mathematical analysis and comment on practical realization.

E l e c t r o s t a t i c generators have long been used f o r production of high voltages at r e l a t i v e l y low power; however, the variable capacitor generator, as opposed to the f r i c t i o n or influence type machine, is capable of e f f i c i e n t operation at high power outputl. For a variable capacitance e l e c t r o s t a t i c generator, the e l e c t r i c a l power input to the capacitor,Pe(watts),is equal to the increase in capacitor e l e c t r o s t a t i c f i e l d energy,Wef(joules), per u n i t time,t(seconds), and the mechanical power output,P M : dWef Pe = ~ + PM

With

Pe = V

dt ~ d _

Wef = T

CV 2

q = CV

V : capacitor p o t e n t i a l ( v o l t s ) q = capacitor charge(coulombs) C = capacitor capacitance(farads). Therefore, the time rate of conversion of mechanical to e l e c t r i c a l energy, dWME/dt, equal to -PM' is given as follows: dWME dt ' ~ : -V 2 dC T'd-t" .

Consider a variable capacitance e l e c t r o s t a t i c energy conversion system employing self-contained e x c i t a t i o n 2 used for generation of e l e c t r i c a l pulsed power as shown schematically below. Energy conversion is obtained by operation of two variable capacitors in complementary opposition to one another across the load. The capacitors each e s s e n t i a l l y possess a charge Q~ , with charge excursion Q from 0 there exlsts a contalned or trapped charge 2qn for the s~stem. For the pulse generator cycle, i n i t i a l l y Capacitor No. 1 has high capacitance CH and a high charge QH = (Qo qo ); Capacitor No. 2 has

I!!EQ-!

IIIE8-2

SWITCH

LOAD

2q
(qo+qo) (Qo-qo), i
:

b 2qo

DRIVE
SHAFT
COUPLING 1

(Oo+qo)

- ( Qo+qo)

-(Qo-qo )

CH IC L

CL CH

1 I -(Q-q) -(Qo+qo )

VARIABLE CAPACITOR NO. 1

VARIABLE CAPACITOR NO. 2

ow capacitance C~ and a low charge Q~ = (Qo - qo)" The switch is open; the switch, for the purpose of this eXpositlon, shall be considered as and ideal switch (that is, i t has negligible inductance, i n f i n i t e l y small capacitance r e l a t i v e to other c i r c u i t elements, i n f i n i t e resistence when open, and zero resistence when closed). The potentials of the two variable capacitors are equal: (Qo + qo)/CH with the total e l e c t r i c a l = (Qo - qo)/CL = VM ; + (Qo - qo)2/2CL " energy of the c i r c u i t given as follows:

WA = (Qo + qo)2/2CH

As the drive shaft rotates, Capacitor No. 1 goes to capacitance C~ and high potential Vu = (Q~ + q^)/C~, with high energy Wu = C~V~/2; Capacitor No. 2 Woes t~ cap~clt~nce Cu an_ low poten~lal V, = 2 L (Q~ - q~)/C W, with low energy W n = CH~/2. Mechanical energy is L co~vert~d t~ e l e c t r i c a l energy in Capacitor No. 1 and e l e c t r i c a l energy is converted to mechanical energy in Capacitor No. 2; however, since Capacitor No. 2 is drive shaft coupled to Capacitor No. I , t h i s mechanical energy may be considered as simultaneously reconverted to e l e c t r i c a l energy, reducing the external energy input required for the conversion in Capacitor No. I. The total e l e c t r i c a l energy of the c i r c u i t is now given as follows: WB = (Qo + qo)2/2CL + (Qo - qo)2/2CH When the switch is closed, the potential rise across Capacitor No. 1 is now equal to the potential drop across the load, V L o . , and the potential drop across Capacitor No. 2. I t is assumed, ~ r the purpose of this exposition, that the transient response time of the e l e c t r i c c i r c u i t is much faster than,the time required for one complete cycle of the variable capacitors. With q now representing the charge being transferred, the equation for the e l e c t r i c a l c i r c u i t response is given as follows: (Qo + qo - q)/CL = VLoad + (Qo - qo + q)/CH ;

IIIE8-3

when t = O, q = O; when t = ~ , equation, obtain:

q = 2qo.

Rearranging the above

Qo(I/CL - I/CH) + qo(I/C L + I/CH) = VLoad + q(I/C L + I/C H) I t is thus seen that the pulse is quivalent to a t r a n s i e n t r e s u l t i n g from switching of a constant source of potential (generated by the contained charge) onto a c i r c u i t consisting of the load and the t ot al variable capacitor capacitance. The pulse energy to the load, Wp, is given as fo l l o w s : Wp = W - W = 2qoQo(I/C L - I/C H) ; B A with pulse potential Vp : Vu - VI , and with pulse charge qp = ~ o " At the end of the pulse, th~ varTable capacitors are at the sa potential and the switch is then opened. As the drive shaft continues to r o t a t e , the variable capacitors w i l l interchange t h e i r roles in the second h a l f of the cycle, pulse energy Wp w i l l again be delivered to the load, and the variable capacitors w i l l return to t h e i r i n i t i a l states as the cycle is completed; thus energy 2Wp is delivered to the load per cycle. For the choice of Vu, CW, and (CI/CH) as the independent operating parameters, the dependen~ operating p~ra~eters are expressed as follows in terms of the independent parameters: qo : (I - CL/CH)(CL/C H)(CHVH/2) Qo : (I + CL/CH)(CL/C H)(CHVH/2) QH : (CL/CH)CHVH ; ; QL = (CL/CH)2CHVH W = (CL/CH)4(CHV~/2) L VM : (CL/CH)V H

W = (CL/CH)(CHV~/2) H CL : (CL/CH)CH ;

VL = (CL/CH)2VH ;

Vp : (I - (CL/CH)2)VH ;

qp = (I - CL/CH)(CL/CH)CHVH

Wp : (II2)(CL/CH)(I - CLICH)(I - (CL/CH)2)CHV~ and f o r F : (I/2)(CL/CH)(I - CL/CH)(I - (CL/CH)2) , Wp : FCHV ~ The pulse energy W has no maximum or minimum for the independent D parameters CM and ~ V~; the physical range of operation of C~ is greater than-zero to T n f i n i t y , the physical range of operation of VH is zero to i n f i n i t y . Within the physical range of operation of the independent parameter (CL/CH), greater than zero to one, there exists

IIIEB-4 a maximum for i t s function F, and hence for Wp, for i t s following value (CL/CH) = (CL/CH)* = ( I / 4 ) + (I/2)(ll/3)~sin[arcsi~(35/l13)1 with

(CL/CH)* = .390388 , to six places, F* = = .100858, and hence .I00858CHV ~

Any dependent parameter with asterisk indicates that parameter with the value of (Cl/C H) that maximizes Wp. A plot of W~ as a function of CH and VH is given below.

=t-

~i-

-1

-~ r', -I 1

Log l oCH

-4

-5

-6

-7

-8

-9

-I 0

Selected relations among the parameters are given below: V~IV H .390388

(CL/CH)*

V[/VH : (CL/CH).2 = .152403 V~/V H = (I - (CL/CH)*2) = .847597 W~/W~ = (CL/CH).3 = .0594963

IIIE8-5

qo/qo Wp = qpVp/2

(I - ( C L / C H ) * ) / ( I ;

+ (CL/CH)*)

= .438447

W~ = q~V~/2

q~ : (I - (CL/CH)*)(CL/CH)*CHV H : .237985CHV H V~ : (I - (CL/CH)*2)VH = .847597V H .

A choice of pulse potential V~ determines the operating value of VH, together with a choice of pulse charge q~ determines the operating value of C and also W~. H For the variable capacitors, operating values of V~ are limited by the breakdown voltage 3,4 of the capacitor plate gaps; ~ractical values, for variable capacitor generatorsb-/, may be on the order of hundreds of kilovolts for gap insulation being either compressed gases (such as air or sulfur hexafluoride) or vacuum. Although compressed gases have spec i f i c resistence values approaching i n f i n i t y , vacuum does have i n f i n i t e specific resistence and; in addition, the use of vacuum as the dielect r i c eliminates the main loss associated with gas insulation, the windage of the moving parts. Although breakdown gradients for vacuum gaps decrease as gap spacing increases, field strengths in the range of 40 to 80 kilovolts per multimeter may be achieveable, with corresponding power densities of 7 to 28 millijoules per cubic centimeter. Practical rotational speeds up to at least 400 revolutions per second are attainable, with the number of poles in the range of ten to twenty. Rotary seals have been developed8 which have the capability for containment of compressed gases and vacuum(very high vacuum, to I0-8 Torr and above) for rotational speeds of 400 revolutions per second and much higher (to 2000 revolutions per second); vacuum can be easily maintained within the working chamber to the rotary seal capability by use of vacuum appendage pumps of the sputter-ion type9. Although the variable capacitor electrical pulse generator having self-contained excitation is basically a bipolar output device, unipolar output may be achieved through use of f u l l wave bridge rectification; however, bipolar output may be required, for example, for corona dischargeslO and other plasma discharges employing dielectric electrodes. The drive shaft is always positively loaded (that is, is inputting mechanical energy to the pulse generator) and the capacitor plates may be designed for constant power leading of the shaft. Although the pulse generator as presented essentially involves the use of contained charge, the generator could be charged or discharged in operation as load conditions dictated. A monitor may be used for the pulse generator, as example, in another schematic for the generator shown below. The load pulse is monitored and changes may be effected by change in the trapped charge, by charge input from the low potential supply through the r e c t i f i e r into Variable Capacitor No. l or by charge output from Variable Capacitor No. 2 through the r e c t i f i e r into the high potential supply; values for the low and high potential could be controlled by the monitor; in addition, energy could be bled off the load by the monitor

IIIE8-6

[ .0.1TO ]
RECTIFIER I RECTIFIER

LOW VAR. CAP. NO. 1 VAR. NO. 2

HIGH

to power both the-monitor and the supplies. A basic use of the low potential supply would be to replenish charge lost by leakage. With the low potential supply set at V~,if Capacitor No. l low potential would attempt to f a l l below this :value because of charge leakage, then charge would be bled in from the supply through the r e c t i f i e r to the capacitor to reestablish the correct operating value. The electrical pulse generator, a device (as indicated by the analysis and comment given above)which may have potential for simple, rugged, efficient flexible operation, may be considered as one possible application for variable capacitance electrostatic energy conversion employing self-contained excitation.

'J. G. Trump, Electrical Engineering, 66, 525(1947). ~'0. P. Breaux, Bulletin of the American Physical Society, Series I ! , 2]_I, 932(1976). W. H. Kohl, Handbook of Materials and Techniques for Vacuum Devices, (Reinhold PubiishingCorp'., New York, 1967), Chap. 20. "i'R. Hawley, Vacuum, I__0.0,310(1960). .Z ~A. S. Denholm, C. N. Coenraads, F. J. McCoy, Astronautics, ~, No. 6, 46(1962). 6A. S. Denholm, J. G. Trump, A. J. Gale, Progress in Astronautics and Rocketry, N. W. Snyder, Editor, ~, (Academic Press Inc., New York, 1961), pp. 745-766. 7C. Coenraads, A. S. Denholm, J. E. Lavelle, F. J. McCoy, Progress in Astronautics and Aeronautics, M. A. Zipkin, R. N. Edwards, Editors, l__]_l,(Academic Press Inc., New York, 1963), pp. 917-939. 8R. Moskowitz, American Society of Lubrication Engineers Transactions, 18, 135(1975). 9A. E. Barrington, High Vacuum Enaineering, (Prentice-Hall Inc., Englewood Cliffs N. J., 1963), C~ap. 7. lOj. A. Coffman, W. R. Browne, Scientific American, 212, No.6, 91(1965).