Compact electromagnetic pulse forming system based on the trigger vacuum switch

Electromagnetic pulse forming (EMPF) is a type of electromagnetic manufacturing technology which produces a powerful Lorentz force to change the shape or form of a work piece. In this paper, a 6.75-kJ/15-kV compact EMPF system based on the RVU-43 trigger vacuum switch is designed, fabricated and tested. The RVU-43 has good performance in a high-voltage discharge process that can withstand 25 kV and conduct 400 kA. A trigger source for the RVU-43 based on a pulse transformer and a solid-state switch can generate a rectangular trigger pulse of an adjustable amplitude of 0-5 kV and a pulse width of 0-5 μs. A simulation model is built in PSPICE to analyze the parameters affecting the performance of the EMPF. The results show that the system inductance can affect the peak current and the rise time, while the system resistance can affect the peak current. Connecting the capacitors in parallel, reducing the discharge loop area and designing a single-turn forming coil with a 30-degree field shaper are used to reduce the influence of the system parameters. The results of experiments for changing the shape of an aluminum alloy tube suggest that the EMPF system can form and process the metal tube successfully.