Semiconductor testing and manufacturing, high voltage tests, quality assurance, mass spectrometer detectors, accelerators – all these applications share a commonality in the fact that they benefit from the use of a magnet power supply. So, what exactly is a magnet power supply and what about it solidifies its presence as an essential component to these applications?
Who better to answer this question than Berkeley Nuceleonics, a leading manufacturer of precision electronic instrumentation for test and measurement, radiation detection, nuclear research and RF/microwave. Their engineers develop sophisticated magnet power supplies for many applications in the markets they serve and have compiled a useful presentation on the subject, focused primarily on its Heinzinger-BNC series. Highlighted here, the complete presentation and much more related information is available on their website.
Accelerators
Magnet power supplies statistically provide the best current stability and lowest ripple. When it comes to the applications mentioned above, these qualities are non-negotiable. In accelerator applications, magnets are used for guiding and focusing the beam. This is a massive role to play, whether the type of magnets are dipole, quadrupole, steerer magnets, or another. The currents for the magnets are powered by these particular DC power supply units that provide the necessary optimum precision. This is where the units from Berkeley Nucleonics come into play.
Its Heinzinger-BNC MPS Series, for example, more than meets the maximum precision requirements to ensure control accuracy and long-term stability. The units within the MPS series not only offer up to 0.001% precision, but the user can also fine tune the combination of current and voltage to make certain that the power supply meets load requirements. Flexibility is the highest priority. The MPS units combined this with a slim and cost-optimized design. The benefits of these traits can be felt beyond direct impacts upon the application to effect the wider scale of an entire operation.
High Efficiency, Low Operating Costs
The merit of efficiency cannot be overlooked when large unit quantities can lead to a significant reduction in operating costs. Designed to be efficient, the Heinzinger-BNC units provide over 90% efficiency and are designed to be connected in parallel as smoothly as possible, thus able to function in small or large operations.
Permanent Operation
The ability to provide power density with the utmost precision is paramount for magnet power supplies, requiring current accuracy and controllability. Compliance with specified data is critical, no matter the length of the operation nor the intensity of its demands whether the application is medical engineering, basic research, or any other that relies on magnet power supplies to see projects through.
Other models
Another line of magnet power supplies from Berkeley Nucleonics is the PCU Series which consists of switch-mode power supplies that are optimized for the use of magnets by providing high-precision DC voltage with excellent current stability and extremely low ripple. They feature modular design and are available in typical voltage categories. Each power supply has various currents available between 100A and 340A. The performance classes extend as high as 15 kW for each unit of the series and can go higher upon request. They can be easily customized for a range of load conditions and requirements.
Overview and About Berkeley Nucleonics
Magnet power supplies have solidified their role to provide the best current stability and lowest ripple, says Berkeley Nucleonics. For the long run, the company emphasizes, it is important that they can adapt to the ever-changing environments that professionals face depending upon different applications. Headquartered in San Rafael, California, Berkeley Nucleonics has additional manufacturing facilities and sales offices located throughout the U.S. For their complete presentation and more info on magnet power supplies, see www.berkeleynucleonics.com.
