High Voltage Pulse Research Articles

Two-dimensionally controllable untethered swimmer using a T-shaped antenna structure with an electrical discharge in air and water

Abstract Untethered microswimmers that can move freely on the water surface are important for next-generation microfabrication. Here, we propose an untethered swimmer and its navigation method using electrical discharge in air and water. Specifically, we demonstrate that a swimmer with a T-shaped antenna structure can move in the left or right directions according to the high-voltage pulse application between the underwater and aerial electrodes. Furthermore, we demonstrate that a swimmer with a modified T-shaped antenna structure can be controlled on the two-dimensional water surface freely using a four-external aerial electrode system. In addition, by the observation with a high-speed camera (960 fps), we found that the expansion of bubbles generated by the underwater electric discharge near the side antenna terminal of the swimmer propelled the swimmer with the instantaneous maximum initial velocity of $\sim$300 mm/s. Our findings should contribute to the next-generation microfabrication on the water surface.

High Voltage Pulsed Radiofrequency Combined With Duloxetine on the Treatment of Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia.

The incidence of glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GPN) is low, but the pain of GPN is severe and seriously affects the patient's life. We report a case with GPN, who had pain relief after treatment with high-voltage pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) combined with duloxetine. This case indicates that high-voltage PRF combined with duloxetine may be an effective approach for reducing pain in patients with GPN, and duloxetine may have a potential advantage for patients with evoked pain.

A SiC Photo-Conductive Switch-Based Pulse Generator with Nanoseconds and High Voltage for Liver Cancer Cells Ablation Therapy

Electroporation ablation, as an innovative cancer treatment, not only preserves the structure and function of affected organs but also significantly reduces surgical risks, offers patients a safer and more effective therapeutic option, and demonstrates immense potential in the field of oncology. This paper presents the innovative design of a high-voltage nanosecond pulse generator triggered by a silicon carbide (SiC) photoconductive switch. The generator is capable of stably outputting adjustable voltages ranging from 10 kV to 15 kV, with pulse widths precisely controlled between 10 and 15 nanoseconds, and an operating frequency adjustable from 1 Hz to 10 Hz. This device enables instant activation and deactivation of the pulse generator during ablation, enhancing the efficiency of strong electric field applications and preventing overtreatment due to delayed shutdown. This paper introduces the structure and basic principles of this novel SiC photoconductive switch-triggered pulse device and reports on the impact of device-related pulse parameters on the ablation effect of hepatocellular carcinoma cells through cell experiments. Under optimal ablation parameters, the CCK8 results show that the number of viable cells is only 0.7% of that in the untreated control group after 12 h of subculture following ablation. These findings hold significant importance for expanding the application areas of SiC devices.

Low cost pulsed electric field generator using DC-DC boost converter and capacitor diode voltage multiplier

Traditional high-voltage pulse generators, like Marx generators often face challenges related to efficiency and complexity. In this paper, a solid-state multi-module high-voltage pulse generator that integrates capacitor-diode voltage multipliers (CDVM) with DC-DC boost converters and closed-loop voltage control is proposed to overcome these challenges. The system achieves high output voltage by coupling the pulsed output voltages of individual low-voltage DC sources in series across each module. The proposed design was modeled using MATLAB, and experimental testing was conducted on a single stage. Comparative analyses between timedomain parameters, proportional-integral (PI), and fractional order proportional integral derivative (FOPID) controllers were performed. Both MATLAB simulations and experimental validations demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach. The rise time, peak time, settling time, and steady-state error are all improved using an FOPID controller, decreasing from 0.32 to 0.31 seconds, 0.42 to 0.35 seconds, and 3.15 to 2.20 seconds, respectively. These findings indicate that a closed-loop FOPID controller enhances time-domain performance parameters more effectively than a PI controller for a two-stage DC-DC voltage multiplier.

Solar PV End-of-Life Waste Recycling: An Assessment of Mechanical Recycling Methods and Proposed Hybrid Laser and High Voltage Pulse Crushing Method

This research article investigates the recycling of end-of-life solar photovoltaic (PV) panels by analyzing various mechanical methods, including Crushing, High Voltage Pulse Crushing, Electrostatic Separation, Hot Knife Cutting, Water Jet Cutting, and Magnetic Separation. Each method’s effectiveness in extracting materials such as glass, silicon, metals (copper, aluminum, silver, tin, lead), and EVA was evaluated. The analysis reveals that no single method is entirely sufficient for comprehensive material recovery. Based on the data analysis, a new hypothetical hybrid method, Laser and High Voltage Pulse (L&HVP), is proposed, which integrates the precision of laser irradiation with the robustness of high voltage pulse crushing. The laser irradiation step would theoretically facilitate the removal of the ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) encapsulant, preparing the materials for subsequent separation. The high high-voltage pulse crushing would then selectively fragment and separate the remaining components, potentially enhancing material recovery efficiency while minimizing contamination. The proposed approach is grounded in the observed limitations of existing techniques. This method aims to offer a more comprehensive and sustainable solution for solar PV module recycling. Further research and experimentation are necessary to validate the effectiveness of the L&HVP method and its potential impact on the field of solar PV recycling.

Impact of Liquid Food Volumes and Treatment Chamber Design on a High-Voltage Bipolar Square Pulse Generator

Impact of Liquid Food Volumes and Treatment Chamber Design on a High-Voltage Bipolar Square Pulse Generator

Fabrication of Mid-Infrared Porous Anodic Alumina Optical Microcavities via Aluminum Anodization.

This study reports the production of mid-infrared (MIR) porous anodic alumina (PAA)-based microcavities with tunable optical quality. The spectral position of the cavity resonance peak (λC), along with its intensity (IR) and Q-factor, varies depending on the geometric positioning of the cavity layer within the multilayer stack of alternating low- and high-porosity layers, as well as the type of cavity produced-either by high voltage (CvH-type) or low voltage (CvL-type) pulses. In most cases, PAA microcavities with CvH-type cavity layers exhibited superior light confinement properties compared to those with CvL-type cavities. Additionally, shifting the cavity layer from the center toward the edges of the multilayer stack enhanced the intensity of the resonance peak. For PAA microcavities with CvH-type cavity layers, the highest intensity (IR = 53%) and the largest Q-factor (Q = 31) were recorded at λC of around 5.1 µm. The anodization approach used in this study demonstrates significant potential for designing PAA-based microcavities with high optical performance in the MIR spectral region, especially with further refinement of electrochemical parameters. These findings pave the way for the development of new photonic materials specifically tailored for the MIR spectral range, broadening their applications in various optoelectronic and sensing technologies.

Risk and management of acute kidney injury resulting from hemoglobinuria following pulsed-field ablation in atrial fibrillation

Abstract Background High-voltage pulses can cause hemolysis leading to hemoglobinuria. Purpose We evaluated the prevalence of hemoglobinuria after pulsed-field ablation (PFA) and its impact on renal function in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods A consecutive series of 128 AF patients undergoing PFA were included in this analysis. The initial patients that did not receive post-ablation hydration were classified as group 1 (n=28) and the rest of the study population that received planned fluid infusion of ≥2 L after the procedure, were categorized as group 2 (n=100). Patients with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <45 were excluded. All underwent extensive ablation beyond pulmonary vein isolation. If urine tested positive for hemoglobin, blood samples were tested for Haptoglobin. Results Baseline characteristics of the study population are provided in Table 1. Number of overall PFA applications were comparable between groups (group 1: 52.07±23.99 vs group 2: 59.83±22.78, p=0.149). Four patients in group 1 received 94.63±3.20 PFA applications. In group 2, 4 patients received >90 applications (94±2.82) and 2 patients received >150 (158.5±4.95) PFA applications. Of the 28 in group 1, 21 (75%) developed hemoglobinuria during the 24-hour following catheter ablation. Mean post-ablation S-Cr was significantly higher than the baseline value in these 21 patients (1.46±0.28 vs 0.86±0.24, p <0.001). Of the 21, 4 (19%) patients that received a mean of 94.63±3.20 PFA applications had the S-Cr. >2.5 mg/dL (mean: 2.95±0.21). These 4 patients were also markedly oliguric (<400 ml/day) in the immediate post-ablation period. Group 2 patients received significantly higher amount of fluid infusion following catheter ablation compared to group 1 (2092.53±198.94 vs 487.48±72.74 ml, p<0.001). None of the 100 patients from group 2 developed detectable hemoglobinuria or elevation of S-Cr including the 4 patients with >90 and 2 patients with >150 PFA applications. Mean post-ablation Haptoglobin was 10.00± 8.40 (normal: 36–195 mg/dL). The accuracy of number of applications predicting Haptoglobin decline was excellent with the area-under the curve (AUC) 0.886 ± 0.068 with 95% CI of 0.754 – 1.000. (P-value = 0.002). In multivariable analysis, both hydration (R-square 0.34, p <0.01) and number of PFA applications (R-square 0.40, p <0.038) were independent predictors of post-procedure acute kidney injury. Conclusions Based on our findings, number of PFA applications was an independent predictor of renal insult in patients receiving extensive ablation that could be prevented using planned fluid infusion immediately after the procedure.

Evaluation of DSRD-based pulsers for a Dielectric Wall Accelerator

Silicon (Si) drift step recovery diodes (DSRD) are opening switches that form the basis for nanosecond-scale high voltage (HV) pulsers. These pulsers are crucial to the operation of a dielectric wall accelerator (DWA), a compact particle accelerator design for proton beam radiation therapy. For the DWA to operate properly, the pulser must generate HV pulses with fast rise times and widths on the order of 1 ns at an operating frequency above 1 kHz. Several pulser designs are available that can optimally drive DSRDs. The purpose of this study is to investigate the capabilities of two DSRD-based pulsers in the context of the DWA and the required pulse parameters. The first pulser is based on a magnetic saturation transformer (MST) and a DRSD. The second pulser considered is a multi-module MOSFET-DSRD-based pulser. Additionally, Sentaurus TCAD simulations are used to study the influence of the Si DSRD doping profile on the output pulse shape. The MST-DSRD-based pulser is able to generate higher amplitude pulses than the MOSFET-DSRD-based pulser with a single module (9645 V and 1807 V, respectively). However, the multi-module MOSFET-DSRD-based pulser achieves the maximum pulse amplitude (10.9 kV) compared to MST-DSRD-based pulser (9645 V). The MOSFET-DSRD-based pulser also generates pulses with shorter pulse widths compared to the MST-DSRD-based pulser (minimum of 3 ns vs. minimum of 8.36 ns, respectively). With no compression stage, the MOSFET-DSRD-based pulser (with more than one module) generates pulses with consistently faster rise times (≤3.06 ns) compared to the MST-DSRD-based pulser (≤4.31 ns). With a compression stage, the rise times were comparable between the two pulsers (MOSFET-DSRD: 1.66 ns and MST-DSRD: 1.48 ns). Both pulsers are able to operate at 1 kHz and the MOSFET-DSRD-based pulser up to 10 kHz. Parasitic capacitance and coupling between modules of the MOSFET-DSRD-based pulser affect the pulse through their influence on the forward and reverse pumping duration. Simulations show that the p region of the DSRD should be larger than the n doped region. Simulations including a parasitic capacitance, modelling the electrical connections to the DSRD, reduce the pulse amplitude. Simulations of the pulsers incorporating SiC DSRDs show a reduction in the pulse amplitude and a widening of the pulse width in comparison to the Si DSRDs.

A comparison of ore pre-concentration efficiency between two high voltage pulse generator systems

High Voltage Pulse (HVP) enabled ore pre-concentration can potentially provide large energy savings and the ability to upgrade low-grade ores for the mining industry. Two types of pulse generator systems commonly used in HVP breakage are Marx generators and pulse transformers. This initial assessment compares the pre-concentration performance of a SelFrag Lab Unit (utilising a Marx generator) and a custom-built HVP machine (employing a pulse transformer) from Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST). Eight sets of experimental results using the two generator systems were collected. Two approaches were taken to analyse the data; a trendline approach using all eight sets of data, and a single-point comparison approach with matched specific energy inputs. The results show that there are significant differences in pre-concentration efficiencies with the HUST machine performing better. To elucidate the potential causes, the degree of size reduction (t10), breakage probability, and selective breakage were investigated for the two generator systems. It is likely that the efficiency of selective breakage is one of the major causes, with the HUST machine presenting better results at selectively breaking high-grade particles and consuming less energy. Additionally, the two generator systems have different energy per discharge levels; the effect of this difference should be investigated in future work.

Fast high voltage pulser for the southern advanced photon source

The Southern Advanced Photon Source (SAPS) is a planned fourth-generation synchrotron radiation facility featuring a low-emittance storage ring. For the H-7BA lattice design, the dynamic aperture is significantly smaller than the physical aperture, necessitating the use of a strip-line kicker based on an on-axis injection scheme. To minimize interference from the pulser on adjacent beams, a nanosecond pulser with stringent rise and fall time requirements is essential. A prototype pulser, based on a semiconductor opening switch, was developed to meet these demands. A nonlinear transmission line loaded with ferrite was utilized for pulse shaping, yielding favorable results. The prototype generated a pulse at a 50 Ω load with a rise time (10%–90%) of 2.4 ns, a fall time (90%–10%) of 3.9 ns, a pulse width (10%–10%) of 7.8 ns, and an amplitude of 19.8 kV. This paper presents the detailed design, optimization, and performance evaluation of the pulser.

A compact solid-state high repetition rate trigger based on a spiral generator.

The trigger generator made with a spiral generator (SG) has the advantages of light weight, compact structure, and low cost and has promising applications in the pulsed power field. This paper introduces a compact solid-state high-voltage pulse trigger system based on an improved SG, which has improved repetition rate and lowered the demands for semiconductor switches' maximum current and current rise rate when compared with previous studies. The improvement is achieved by winding outward an additional layer of the passive layer and low-voltage metal strip, which realizes a significant reduction of the peak current and current rise rate of the discharge switch. The final dimension of the trigger is 25 × 10 × 10cm3, excluding the power supply. An experiment carried out in single shot mode shows that the peak value of the output pulse can reach 50kV with a leading edge of 57ns. Repetitive experiments were carried out up to 1kHz, with the peak voltage of the output pulse being 30.5kV, the leading edge being 48ns, and the jitter being 0.84ns. Finally, the generator is used to trigger a gas switch, and it works stably and reliably.

High-voltage pulse generator based on LTD concept for CuBr + Ne + HBr laser media excitation

High-voltage pulse generator based on LTD concept for CuBr + Ne + HBr laser media excitation

Ensuring the reliability of automated pulse electric spark control of pipe coatings in in-line production

The issues of ensuring the reliability of automated electric spark testing of the continuity of dielectric coatings on metal pipes with diameters up to 1.5 meters in the context of in-line manufacturing are addressed. A simulation of the “high-voltage pulse source – electrode – dielectric coating – metal substrate” system has been conducted. Experimental studies have been conducted to evaluate the load capacity and voltage stability of the Corona 2.2 holiday detector using an improved generator at high capacitive loads.

Experimental study on dynamic elastic modulus loss of concrete broken by high voltage pulse discharge based on orthogonal design

High pulse discharge breakage has a vast prospect as a fresh crushing mechanism for it has the capability to enhance the comminuting effect, however, the breaking mechanism is not yet well studied. In this orthogonal designed research, 27 indoor tests of high voltage pulse discharge (HVPD) for breaking concrete together with the determination of dynamic elastic modulus of concrete based on three variables, i.e. applied voltage, pulse number, and discharge electrode gap, were carried out at three levels. The effects of these factors were studied by using significance and range analysis. The results showed that among these factors, the pulse number has the greatest impact on the dynamic elastic modulus loss (DEML) of concrete, while the applied voltage has the least influence. By changing the value of pulse number and applied voltage, the DEML can be increased to 12.9% and 26.7%, respectively. The impact of the factors’ combination was experimentally proven, and the resulting DEML of concrete broken by HVPD was obtained as 219.73 ± 9.58 MPa, which was 25.19% higher than the maximum of the DEML of concrete broken by HVPD in the orthogonal experiment under various individual factors. These findings provide technical references for improving the crushing efficiency of concrete materials and the engineering application of HVPD crushing technology.

Investigating the principle and application of high-frequency and high-voltage pulse AC equipment for oil–water separation of heavy crude oil

To address the challenges of oil–water separation encountered during the processing of heavy crude oil, this study meticulously examines the kinetics of demulsification under an electric field. Consequently, a cutting-edge high-frequency/high-voltage AC pulsed power supply has been innovatively developed. This device boasts a flexible voltage-adjustment mechanism, strategically enhancing the inverter output voltage incrementally throughout the pulse’s duration. This method effectively reduces the negative impact of current surges on the operational stability of crude oil desalination plants, especially during the commutation periods of the switching devices. Furthermore, it resolves the issue of premature power supply shutdowns to the desalination plant, caused by peak currents misinterpreted as critical short-circuit currents leading to pole plate breakdowns. An industrial application study conducted at Shandong Chambroad Petrochemicals Co., Ltd. Under identical operational conditions, the power supply designed in this research outperforms traditional electrical desalting transformers in several key aspects. These include a notably enhanced oil–water separation capability and significantly more stable performance. Remarkably, the desalting efficiency shows substantial improvement even at increased feed rates, under constant other conditions. The experimental findings indicate that the average rates of desalination and dehydration achieved by this power supply exceed 90%. Moreover, even when the feed rate is augmented by approximately 75% under constant operating conditions, the desalination efficiency remains 78.49% higher than that achieved by standard industrial frequency electric desalination transformers. Additionally, the desalting outcomes are predominantly unaffected by fluctuations in the initial salt content of the feedstock, demonstrating the robustness of the developed solution.

Rotary pump using underwater electrical discharge

Powerful micropumps and water treatment are essential for biomedical applications using microfluidic circuits. Therefore, we propose a rotary pump using underwater electrical discharge for biomedical applications and elucidate its design concept. Specifically, we demonstrate that by applying high-voltage pulses repeatedly, the rotary device having an asymmetrical antenna structure can rotate with the maximum angular velocity of ∼25 rad s−1, and can produce a net flow with an average velocity of ∼3.2 mm s−1 along with an instantaneous maximum flow of ∼9 mm s−1. In addition, we explain our experimental results fairly well by proposing a simple model that considers the effects of asymmetricity and electric field strength with a steric effect. Our findings should contribute to the microfluidics for biomedical applications.

An integrated dual-frequency IVUS system with interleaved sampling and parallel signal processing based on FPGA

Abstract Due to the lack of high voltage and low frequency pulse transmission channels, commercial high frequency IVUS imaging system cannot meet the hardware requirements of ultrasound angiography. Therefore, it is of great research significance to develop a dual-frequency IVUS rotary imaging system with high integration, high sampling rate and sampling accuracy. In this work, an integrated dual-frequency IVUS system with interleaved sampling and parallel signal processing based on FPGA was developed. The central frequency of low-frequency channel is up to 10MHz, and the peak voltage range is 80-200V. The central frequency of the high-frequency channel is up to 60MHz, and the voltage peak-to-peak range is 40-80V. The acquisition channel is 500MHz and 12bit, which is realized by interleaved sampling of two ADC. The motor controlled ultrasonic transducer acquires 400-800 lines per turn, and eventually form a 360-degree IVUS hybrid imaging successfully.

Generation of seed electrons in guided ionization waves in He–O2 mixtures: The effect of negative ion cluster formation

The kinetics of electrons and negative ions was numerically studied under the conditions, which are typical for multi-pulsed guided ionization waves in He flows ejected into ambient air. It was shown that, in He with a small admixture of O2 or air, O2− ions formed due to three-body electron attachment in the discharge afterglow are rapidly converted to O4− cluster ions in pulse off time. We suggested that seed electrons are generated at the leading edge of a pulse in two steps, and these steps are dissociation of O4− ions to form O2− ions followed by electron detachment from the O2− ions. The rate of O4− dissociation was calculated in He–O2 mixtures for various reduced electric fields on the basis of a Monte Carlo simulation. This rate, as well as the rate of electron detachment from O2− ions calculated previously, was used to simulate seed electron generation in a high-voltage nanosecond pulse in He–O2 mixtures for different gas pressures. It was shown that the formation of O4− ions drastically hinders the generation of seed electrons in multi-pulsed guided ionization waves in He–O2 and He–air mixtures.

Electromagnetic compatibility study of acoustoelectric logging detector

Abstract The acoustoelectric effect logging detector can achieve downhole acoustoelectric effect measurement, but the excitation of the acoustic transducer can generate significant electromagnetic interference (EMI) signals, it is difficult to effectively measure weak converted signals of acoustoelectric effect underground. The EMI problem of acoustoelectric effect logging detectors can be solved by studying EMI characteristics. Based on the analysis of the structure, measurement function, and measured interference signals of the receiving electrodes of the detector, the EMI sources, coupling paths, and sensitive components in the detector were studied. The basic process of EMI generated by high-voltage pulse excitation source of acoustic transducer is analysed, and two electromagnetic coupling interference analysis models for detectors, namely conductive coupling and borehole electromagnetic coupling, are established. This study can provide a fundamental method and reference for electromagnetic compatibility analysis of acoustoelectric effect logging detectors.