Aluminum micro-particles combustion ignited by underwater electrical wire explosion

摘要

The results of experiments on the ignition of aluminum micro-particles’ combustion by underwater electrical wire explosion (UEWE) are reported. A compact sub-microsecond timescale duration high-current (240 kA) pulsed power generator was used to explode copper and aluminum wires electrically in different aluminum powder suspensions. The combustion of the aluminum micro-particles was characterized by a target time-of-flight method and optical measurements of the exploding wire and aluminum suspension light emission. It was shown that, by using a proper solution and type of aluminum powder, this method allows aluminum micro-particle combustion in the estimated range of 32–79 % efficiency.