magnetic amplifier used in lieu of semiconductors 2

[fredrick2121]

Since the mag amps are so rugged and handle transients so well, I am considering using them in lieu of semiconductors to rectify sinusoidal ac waveform. My question is, is this possible, and if so, can you point me in the direction to go study how to design it ?
Thank you.
Fredrick

 

[IRstuff]

I'm confused...Aren't magnetic amplifiers made from semiconductors?

TTFN

 

[fredrick2121]

Semiconductors can be used in conjunction with magnetic amps but magnetic amps are not semiconductors themselves. Normally they consist of inductors and and/or transformers, in some arrangement to perform some signal modifications. See, for instance,

http://avstop.com/AC/apgeneral/MAGNETICAMPLIFIERS.html

for some basic information. I am asking if someone has experience with using mag amps for conversion of ac to dc without using semiconductors in the "power" part of the circuit, the reason being the ability of the amp to handle transients caused by output short circuits, etc ( without using rotating machinery ).
Thank you

 

[IRstuff]

Thanks for the information...

It looks from figures 8-215 and 8-216, you could potentially isolate the AC from the diodes, but you're stuck for anything beyond that.

The reason would be that the magnetic amplifier is operating essentially as a linear AC device, while the diodes are non-linear, unidirectional DC devices.

TTFN

 

[fredrick2121]

I guess the key here is to run the supply through a reactor which you can saturate magnetically when you want, and leave normal when you want also. So you just put in series with the supply, and it acts as a very high impedance to current flow when you want to use it to block current, and a very low impedance when you want to pass current.
I have seen, in the past, a manual that the US Navy used for their technical people, in which they sent their techs to class to learn about magnetic amplifiers. It was a very informative book, and I wonder if anyone knows how to obtain a copy of it ?
Thanks

 

[mplsscooter]

The mag-amp will control the current and voltage well, it is beyound me as to how it would or could rectify ac. I know that you can control the ac portion well and that transient from primary are mostly blocked from seconardy and are more blocked as the bias current increases. example would be a lot of power comamies use meg-amps for for control of out put on generators. a few milli-amps controlmegawatt generators

 

[Clyde38]

Magnetic Amplifiers
by The U.S. Navy, George B. Trinkaus (Editor) "Naval electronics engineers are beginning to accept the fact that a competitor to the electron tube, in the power and control field, has not only..." (more)
SIPs: control winding, magnetic amplifiers, electron tubes




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[Warpspeed]

Hehehe, the Germans used mag amps in the control system of the V1 flying bomb. The reason being that vacuum tubes available at the time simply could not stand the accelerations and vibration.

Now everyone is wetting themselves over EMP, and trying to make something that can survive. Mag amps look like one possible solution, hence the old technology is gaining some renewed interest.

I wonder how many mag amps you would need to build a microprocessor ? and how fast could it go (chuckle).

 

[hacksaw]

All humor aside, such mag amps can be designed, though not with the density currently achieved with semiconductors.