Small-scale pulsed-power applications

Presents examples selected from a collaborative research programme into the industrial and commercial applications of pulsed power in areas such as archaeology, medicine, food processing and material testing. Underwater experiments are described, using pulsed high-voltage electrical discharges from a small power source, to determine the optimum arrangements for different applications. The mechanical effects and surface-cleaning properties of the pulsed power were investigated for different materials, and the technique is under development for areas such as the cleaning of excavated metal and archaeological artifacts. A further application considers the use of a small capacitor bank (typically 10 kJ/20 kV) to induce almost hydrostatic pressure pulses, of the order of a few kbars, in small liquid samples for immunisation purposes. The sample is inserted into a cylindrical copper spool, which is squeezed by the action of the magnetic pressure generated by an axial current (Z-pinch geometry). Interesting effects have been reported from the use of a constant and high pressure applied to virus samples. The same size (10 kJ) capacitor bank has also been employed in a range of high strain rate experiments to measure the impact parameters of polymeric cylinders.