A Novel Repetitive High-Voltage Resonant Pulse Generator for Plasma-Assisted Milling

Abstract

This article puts forward a high repetition rate and high-voltage resonant pulse generator for plasma-assisted milling. This circuit uses only one semiconductor switch with an antiparallel diode and works in the resonant mode with the help of a resonant inductor, a resonant capacitor, and a pulse transformer to generate high-voltage pulses. An equivalent circuit of the proposed topology considering parasitic elements is established. Based on the equivalent circuit, the working principle of the pulse generator is analyzed in detail. In order to verify the theoretical analysis and circuit operation, a laboratory prototype with a 150-V dc input is implemented. The pulse repetition rate can be adjusted from 5.32 to 18.90 kHz, and the peak output voltage correspondingly varies between 8.84 and 11.7 kV. The pulse generator is used to drive a dielectric barrier discharge plasma-assisted milling chamber. Experimental results show that the pulse generator can work stably.