Capacitor energy storage pulse discharge circuit

What is the purpose of discharge testing capacitors?

Capacitors used in firing sets and other high discharge current applications are discharge tested to verify performance of the capacitor against the application requirements.

How does a capacitor discharge?

Once the capacitor is fully charged, it discharges through two series resistors when the switch is toggled. The resistor RL, a load resistor, simulates the firing set load and is typically in the range of 0.125 ohms to 2 ohms depending on the application.

What is discharge pulse data?

Discharge pulse data is two columns of data separated by a tab character. The first column is the time in seconds and the second column is the current in k-amps. A single optional header line is supported with the text 'Discharge Pulse Data (sec. amp)'.

What parameters are used to characterize a discharge pulse?

Several parameters are used to characterize a discharge pulse, including peak current, rise time, fall time, pulse width, and energy. These parameters are determined by analyzing the current and voltage waveforms of the pulse.

What is the initial voltage across the capacitor?

For a discharge test, the initial current is zero and the initial voltage across the capacitor is V0. The zero initial current boundary condition is applied to Eq. 7, with the solution indicating that A1 is equal to the negative of A2.

What is a Discharge Pulse Tester data file?

A Discharge Pulse Tester data file is characterized by a first header line with the exact text “Discharge Pulse Tester Data”.