1. Impulse Generator Control Module
Final Presentation

2. Team Members Phillip Dillon Electrical Engineering Team Leader
Calvin Liu
Electrical Engineering
Mohieldeen Abdelrahman
Electrical Engineering
Francis Tran
Electrical Engineering
John Ford
Computer Engineering
Dr. Masoud Karimi
Faculty Advisor

3. Outline Background Problem Solution System Overview Subsystems
Constraints
Approach
Timeline
Progress
References
[1]

4. Background What is an Impulse Generator Control Module?
Apparatus which produces short high-voltage surges.
Capacitors charge in parallel and discharge in series into a test object.
These surges are used to test electrical power equipment.
Impulse Generator Control Module:
Measures/adjust charging voltage
Measures/adjust the spark gap distance

5. Problem
The Marx high impulse generator in MSU’s High Voltage Lab (HVL) is currently controlled using analog gauges at an outdated manual control panel.

6. Solution
Create a digital control module for an impulse generator that can be easily used and implemented into an existing control system similar to the one in the MSU’s High Voltage Lab.

7. System Overview Atmospheric Conditions User Input Sphere Gap Control
Control Module
Computer
Voltage
Control
Power

8. Subsystem: Spark Gap Control
Motor

9. + + Subsystem: Voltage Control Variac Stepper Motor
Generator Power Supply + +
[12]
[13]

10. Subsystem: Voltage Control

11. Technical Constraints
Name
Description
Motor Control
The module must be capable of controlling a minimum of two motors.
Voltage Measurement
The peak voltage measurement must be accurate within 3% error.
Spark Gap Control
The spark gap control must operate within +/- 2mm.
Humidity Measurement
The humidity must be measured over the range of 20% to 90% relative humidity and must be within an accuracy of +/- 5% relative humidity.
Temperature Measurement
The surrounding air temperature must be measured within the range of 0 to 50° Celsius and must be within an accuracy of +/- 2° Celsius.

12. Practical Constraints: Sustainability
The control module must be compatible with future modifications, renovations, or replacements of the impulse generator.

13. Practical Constraints: Health and Safety
The control module must be able to detect any faults it could cause and must be able to report this to the user, as well as signaling the failure to any other sub-systems that require such signaling.

14. Approach: Microcontroller
[2]
[3]
[4]
Pic33
Arduino Due
Arduino Uno

15. Approach: Motors ] [5] [6] [7] HT34-488 Step Motor Airpax LB82773-M1
SM42HT B
Step Motor

16. Approach: Sensors
[8]
[9]
[10]
SHT10
DHT11
DHT22

17. Timeline

18. Effective Teaming Objectives Phillip Calvin John Mohieldeen Francis
Spark Gap Control X
Voltage Control
Microcontroller
Testing and Debugging
Power Supply
Atmospheric Sensors

19. Progress January: Research Ordered Parts February:
Prototype for testing

20. Progress March: Research Prototype for testing April: Motor Control
Software
Debugging

21. Progress

22. References [1] Marx High Impulse Generator. [Online]. Available:
[2] PIC33. [Online]. Available:
[3] Arduino Due. [Online]. Available:
[4] Arduino Uno. [Online]. Available:
[5] HT Step Motor. [Online]. Available:
[6] Airpax Step Motor. LB82773-M1. [Online]. Available:
[7] SM42HT B Step Motor. [Online]. Available:
[8] SH10. [Online]. Available:
[9] DHT11. [Online]. Available:
[10] DHT22. [Online]. Available:
[11] IEEE Standard 4. [Online]. Available:
[12] Large Stepper Motor. [Online]. Available:
[13] Variac. [Online]. Available:

23. Impulse Generator Control Module
Final Presentation