Numerical simulation and experiment of pulsed switching of a ferromagnetic core

Ferromagnetic core based magnetic switches are widely used in various pulsed power facilities. The dynamic characteristics of high-power magnetic switches, which have important impacts on the pulse modulation process, are analyzed via an improved numerical model in this paper. The model is established by simultaneously solving the circuit equations and the magnetic field diffusion equations. An implicit finite difference method is used in solving the diffusion equations, which has no numerical convergence problems, and the Jiles-Atherton model is used to obtain an accurate hysteresis loop of the core. The improved model predicts the performance of the magnetic switch quite well. It is then used to analyze the detailed dynamic saturation process of a core, and the core's saturation time predicted by the model is consistent with the experimental data, the error being less than 5%. Furthermore, the interlamination electric field is calculated and analyzed, and it is predicted that breakdown is most likely to occur at the inner side of the core and at the edge of the lamination.