The design and test of a 2-mv, air-insulated lightning simulator with a ten to one dynamic operating range

This paper describes a 2-MV, air-insulated lightning simulator designed and tested by Physics International Company (PI). The simulator has three major components: a high voltage Marx generator, a 850-/spl mu/H inductor and an RC shunt tower. The output is intended to generate a lightning-like discharge, striking small-scale aircraft models for attachment-point studies. The voltage output risetime specification is 1 MV//spl mu/s. The discharge current has a peak of 20 kA and a fall time of 5.5 /spl mu/s. The most significant technical challenge was achieving the operating range required by the customer. The Marx had to reliably operate at charge voltages from as low as 1500 to as high as 50,000 volts. We achieved this requirement by employing a mechanically operated "gang" switch that utilizes ultraviolet (UV) illumination to ensure rapid closure of the individual switch sites. The switching approach also eliminated Marx pre-fires. Test results and performance will be discussed.