Features of the First Stage of the Mechanism of Rapid Electrical Explosion of Conductors

Abstract

With the development of high technology the range of high-risk facilities is extended, incuding thermal, nuclear and hydroelectric power, defense and space systems. The safety of these objects represents a particular challenge, the solution of which is impossible without the use of modern means of high-speed switching of emergency and restrictions of dangerous currents and voltages. Analysis of the existing parameters of the switching means (gas dischargers and varistors) revealed a number of shortcomings, greatly reducing the effectiveness of their use in mission-critical systems. The main disadvantage is the long time of their reaction. The use of varistors as switching devices becomes difficult due to inability to ensure their work in parallel operation and a significant reduction in performance at heating by pulse currents over 100 °С. In this respect, the most promising is the implementation of the mechanism of rapid electrical explosion of conductors. An analysis of studies conducted in the work, has shown that the main condition for the formation of this mechanism is the ratio between the energy input time and the switching power supply to the electrical explosion conductor and the time interval of occurrence of non-uniform hydrodynamic sections. The paper considers the possibility of varying the duration of the existence of stages of heating and melting of metallic conductors in the implementation of a mechanism for rapid electrical explosion.