Design considerations and experimental estimation of temperature coefficient of resistance of W-Re heater for high power pulse magnetrons

Abstract

This paper deals with the design methodology of the heater for an indirectly-heated oxide-coated-cathode of a 3 MW S-Band Pulse Magnetron. The temperature coefficient of resistance of 97%Tungsten – 3%Rhenium (W97-Re3) wire has been experimentally estimated. A value in the range of 3.07 × 10⁻³ – 3.43 × 10⁻³ per °C has been estimated over the temperature range of 863–1439 °C. An approach to design the heater has been evolved in order to ensure quality, reliability, and long life of high power magnetrons.

Keywords:

• Tungsten – Rhenium wire
• heater
• oxide-coated cathode
• high power pulse magnetrons
• temperature coefficient of resistance

Acknowledgment

The Authors would like to thank Director CSIR-CEERI for granting permission to publish the manuscript, and BARC- Mumbai, for funding the development of the 3 MW accelerator magnetron. We are also thankful to our colleagues of Magnetron group for their valuable support.