Solid-State Pulsed Power Generator Based on Blumlein PFN Using Saturable Pulse Transformer

A solid-state pulsed power generator has been developed. It is based on Blumlein pulse forming network (PFN) combined with saturable pulse transformer (SPT). The primary circuit is switched by a switching unit consisting of three MOS-gated thyristors connected in parallel. The SPT functions both as a transformer to increase the voltage and as a closing switch for the secondary circuit. The PFN on the secondary side is charged by the transformer and switched by the SPT so that a pulsed output is generated on a matched load. In the demonstration experiment using one module, an output with peak voltage of similar to 10.4 kV and pulsewidth of similar to 160 ns was obtained on a resistive load of 52 Omega. Furthermore, three identical modules, sharing a common primary circuit, have been connected in series to demonstrate voltage adding, where a peak output voltage of similar to 30 kV was obtained on a load of 156 Omega with energy efficiency of similar to 54 %. This pulsed power generator has been tested at repetition rate of 20 kHz in burst mode.

Automated summary

A solid-state pulsed power generator utilizing a Blumlein pulse forming network and saturable pulse transformer technology has been developed, producing high voltage output with short pulses in experiments. Additionally, voltage adding has been demonstrated by connecting multiple modules in series to achieve a peak output voltage of approximately 30 kV with an energy efficiency of around 54%.