Concept of an inductive voltage adder for industrial applications

Abstract

The concept of an inductive voltage adder (IVA) which is suitable for industrial pulsed power applications is described. The pulse generator is designed to produce a double exponential waveform at voltage amplitudes of tens of kV to >100 kV, and current amplitudes of typically 10 kA into a matched load, at a pulse duration of typically 1 μs FWHM (full width at half maximum). In the IVA concept, the power is added through vector addition of electromagnetic fields rather than connecting a large number of semiconductor switches in series as in standard (Marx generator) technologies. This work comprises conceptual and simulation work. Fundamental components of the generator like the magnetic coupling (“transformer” section), magnetic isolation and the combining of power have been designed on the basis of 3D electromagnetic (EM) simulation work using CST Microwave Suite. Complementary experimental work based on these simulations comprises the verification of a single pulse module [1], single IVA stages incorporating several parallel pulse modules [2], and a multi-module, multi-stage IVA [3]. The IVA concept and results of these simulations are presented.