Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 2, 2026
11:47
A 100 KW Class Applied-field Magnetoplasmadynamic Thruster
Published on: December 22, 2018
Novel transformer designs for high-power high-repetition-rate applications
V E Merchant1, H J Seguin, J Dow
1Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, T6G 2G7.
The Review of Scientific Instruments
|September 1, 1979
Summary
Researchers developed cost-effective, compact high-voltage impulse transformers for laser applications. These transformers offer high power handling and reliable performance at high repetition rates, enabling efficient laser operation.
Area of Science:
- Electrical Engineering
- Laser Technology
- Materials Science
Background:
- High-voltage impulse transformers are crucial for pulsed laser systems.
- Existing transformers often face limitations in power handling, rise-time, and cost.
- Optimizing transformer design is key for advancing laser applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a novel construction technique for high-voltage impulse transformers.
- To evaluate the electrical performance of these transformers for pulser-sustained laser applications.
- To demonstrate a compact, cost-effective, and high-performance transformer solution.
Main Methods:
- Development of a novel construction technique using condensed winding and toroidal cores.
- Integration of the transformers into pulser-sustained laser systems.
- Testing of electrical performance, including rise-time, power handling, and repetition rate.
Main Results:
- The compact transformer structures demonstrated excellent rise-time and power-handling capacity.
- Impulse power operation reached several megawatts within the kilowatt average power regime.
- Reliable performance was confirmed at repetition rates up to 40 kHz.
- Transformers were constructed in minutes at negligible cost.
Conclusions:
- The presented construction technique yields high-performance impulse transformers suitable for demanding laser applications.
- The transformers offer a significant advancement in terms of power density, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.
- These devices enable reliable, high-repetition-rate operation in pulser-sustained laser systems.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Transformers with Off-Nominal Turns Ratios
In scenarios involving parallel transformers with disparate ratings, developing per-unit models requires accommodating off-nominal turns ratios. This situation arises when the selected base voltages are not proportional to the transformer’s voltage ratings. Consider a transformer where the rated voltages are related by the term a. If the chosen voltage bases satisfy a relationship involving term b, term c is defined as the ratio of these bases. This ratio is then substituted into the rated...
01:19Three-Winding Transformers
Three identical single-phase transformers can be configured to form a three-phase transformer connection, which involves high-voltage and low-voltage windings. The high-voltage windings are denoted by capital letters A-B-C, while the low-voltage windings are labeled with lowercase letters a-b-c, representing their respective phases. This notation helps distinguish between the high and low voltage sides of the transformer.
In the per-unit equivalent circuit of a grounded Y-Y three-phase...
In the per-unit equivalent circuit of a grounded Y-Y three-phase...
01:21Energy Losses in Transformers
In an ideal transformer, it is assumed that there are no energy losses, and, hence, all the power at the primary winding is transferred to the secondary winding. However, in reality, the transformers always have some energy losses, and, hence, the output power obtained at the secondary winding is less than the input power at the primary winding due to energy losses.
There are four main reasons for energy losses in transformers.
The first cause can be the high resistance of the copper windings...
There are four main reasons for energy losses in transformers.
The first cause can be the high resistance of the copper windings...
01:28Equivalent Circuits for Practical Transformers
The practical equivalent circuits of single-phase two-winding transformers exhibit significant deviations from their idealized versions due to the inherent properties of winding resistance and finite core permeability. These properties result in real and reactive power losses, affecting the transformer's performance. Understanding these deviations is crucial for designing more efficient transformers.
In a practical transformer, each winding exhibits resistance and leakage reactance. The winding...
In a practical transformer, each winding exhibits resistance and leakage reactance. The winding...
01:26Transformers
A device that transforms voltages from one value to another using induction is called a transformer. A transformer consists of two separate coils, or windings, wrapped around the same soft iron core. However, they are electrically insulated from each other.
The iron core has a substantial relative permeability. Therefore, the magnetic field lines generated due to the current in one winding are almost entirely confined within the core, such that the same magnetic flux permeates each turn of both...
The iron core has a substantial relative permeability. Therefore, the magnetic field lines generated due to the current in one winding are almost entirely confined within the core, such that the same magnetic flux permeates each turn of both...
01:18Reducing Line Loss
In a three-phase circuit, line loss is an indicator of energy dissipated as heat due to the resistance of transmission lines. To address this, incorporating transformers into the system—a step-up transformer at the source and a step-down transformer at the load—is a strategic solution. Two three-phase transformers are introduced to improve this.
With a step-up transformer at the source, the voltage is increased, thereby reducing the current in the transmission lines since power loss in...
With a step-up transformer at the source, the voltage is increased, thereby reducing the current in the transmission lines since power loss in...