Energy Conversion Efficiency of Mcg-Based Lightning Simulators

The problem of HE mass gain minimization is extremely important due to environmental and safety considerations of MCG application to mobile simulators of lightning current (MSLC). There are several methods of increasing the efficiency of MSLC with an electrical explosive opening switch (EEOS) in the circuit of the secondary winding of a conventional transformer (CT) with inductance L₂. One may use the battery of fast-run MCGs of a small diameter, or increase both the magnitude of L₂ and the energy of power supply bank of capacitors, or use larger diameter wires with solid insulation. Results of experiments using spiral-coaxial MCG, 36 mm in diameter, have produced an acceptable efficiency of 12%. When the wires were insulated with polyethylene, energy absorption was high. Analysis of alternatives to open switches (OS) in the MCG circuit has shown their competitiveness. They allow reduction of the optimum L₂ magnitude, use of a modular device design, and shaping of the waveform and of the lightning current pulse duration during its droop by introducing one additional MCG module into the circuit.