Design, modeling, and implementation of a 30-kW piezoelectric pulse generator

The design and modeling of a high power piezoelectric pulse generator is presented and discussed. The piezoelectric element produces a transient voltage pulse when mechanically compressed. This investigation presents a theoretical description of the pulse generator as well as methods to implement it in a computer model. The computer model of the pulse generator can be separated in two functional parts-the mechanical model and the electrical model. The two models are linked by the electromechanical constants of the piezoelectric material. Additionally, this investigation presents techniques used to model the diagnostic system that measures the generator output. Finally, two experiments (i.e., piezoelectric projectile and bench test) have been performed on the piezoelectric pulse generator to compare the results with the computer model. The piezoelectric material used in this investigation is barium titanate. In the first experiment, the experimental results and the simulation results are not in good agreement due to the problem with the diagnostic system. Experimentally, the peak current, peak power, and power density are 58.2 A, 28.4 kW, and 517 kW/cm/sup 3/, respectively. The second experiment gives the results that are very well agreed with the computer model with the bench test diagnostics system. Experimentally, the peak current, peak power and power density are 36 A, 15.6 kW, and 96.7 kW/cm/sup 3/, respectively.