Pulse capacitors are common pulse energy storage units and a crucial component of pulse power systems.
A pulse power system consists of five components: a primary energy source, a pulse energy storage unit, a pulse forming unit, a pulse transmission unit, and a load. Therefore, the pulse energy storage unit is a crucial component of the power system.
The pulse capacitor in a pulse energy storage unit is an energy storage device used to increase the power pulse output signal. In a pulse power system, it stores energy slowly and then delivers the appropriate amount of energy to the load quickly at a higher power level within a short period of time. The primary energy source slowly charges the pulse energy storage unit to store energy. The pulse capacitor then compresses and shapes the pulse in time during the pulse forming unit, amplifying the pulse power. Ultimately, the load receives a high-peak-power pulse waveform.
Pulse capacitors used in pulse units include foil capacitors and metallized film capacitors. Foil capacitors are often used at low field strengths and have a lower energy storage density, while metallized film capacitors have the opposite effect, which is one of the main reasons for their widespread use in pulse energy storage units.
Pulse capacitors can operate in either an impulse or continuous mode. Applications requiring pulse capacitors to operate in an impulsive mode include particle beam equipment and coded seismic source detection. Applications requiring pulse capacitors to operate continuously over long periods of time include fresh-water storage, industrial wastewater treatment, and shallow-sediment exploration. As a result, pulse capacitors have a wide range of applications, particularly in military, industrial, and exploration sectors.