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This paper discusses a novel methodology to increase the voltage droop compensation range in generalized solid-state bipolar high-voltage Marx modulators with one resonant stage. To maintain the modularity characteristic of bipolar Marx modulators, the imbedding of additional resonant stages is not straightforward. Nevertheless, this paper proposes to add a second resonant stage to the already existing resonant-type voltage droop compensation stage. This second stage increases the voltage droop compensation percentage of a generalized solid-state bipolar Marx generator. The compensation of the bipolar pulse voltage droop is now achieved by adding two auxiliary synchronous compensation resonant voltages, to the output capacitive decaying voltage. Simulation and experimental results are presented for six Marx plus two resonant stages, 16% voltage droop, with 3-kV pulse amplitude, 100- $\mu \text{s}$ pulsewidth, 40-ms relaxation time, and 10-Hz pulse repetition rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superconducting pulsed-power supply (SPPS) provides an efficient method for both high-density inductive energy storage and high current pulse generation. An SPPS consisting of eight high-temperature superconducting pulsed-power transformer (HTSPPT) modules with XRAM methodology was designed and simulated in preliminary studies. It recycled the leakage flux energy and reduced the voltage across the opening switch with a capacitor in primary. However, the SPPS with XRAM methodology has two problems. The first one is that it can provide high pulse amplitude, but cannot provide enough width. The other one is that the ratio of the maximum capacitive energy over the total inductive energy is relatively large, which cuts down the overall system energy density. This paper proposes a modified topology of SPPS with capacitor reuse methodology. Multiple HTSPPT modules are divided into several groups. Each group shares the same capacitor. The procedure of the modified SPPS is presented in detail. A 270-kJ SPPS with capacitor reuse methodology is designed and simulated to illustrate the modified topology. With the load parameters of a small railgun, the peak value of the load current is 207.15 kA and the pulse half-height width is 5.56 ms, the ratio of the maximum capacitive energy over the total inductive energy is 11%. The characteristics of the modified topology are also described in detail in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper proposed the use of a ringer, a self-switched inductive storage system, for applications involving reluctance accelerators, a kind of electromagnetic launcher, and compatible with applications where portability is a requirement. There will be shown three different useful approximations for the analysis of the ringer, employed as a power source for a reluctance accelerator. First, it described the equations governing the que behavior of an ideal unloaded ringer, and then the equations for the ringer with an uncoupled inductive load, and ultimately a Lagrangian model for the ringer as an inductive power source for a reluctance accelerator, capable to make predictions about the currents through the circuits and the exit speed of the projectile for a given firing. The accuracy of the predictions made with the third approximation, the Lagrangian model, was tested experimentally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, inductive energy storage systems have attracted interests due to high energy densities. The high-temperature superconducting pulsed-power supply (HTSPPS) is one inductive PS topology for electromagnetic launching system. The topology can achieve a high amplitude load current and cut down the electrical losses due to the zero resistance characteristic of superconducting inductors. However, in this topology, the integrated gated commuted thyristor is used as a switch and cannot withstand high current, which limits the expansion of the system. Besides, it has significant current amplification ability as a single unit, but one module cannot provide sufficient amplitude and appropriate pulsewidth for the load current of the electromagnetic launching. In this paper, by applying the principle of inverse current commutation with semiconductor devices (ICCOS) in the HTSPPS, a novel circuit topology called HTSPPS with ICCOS is presented. This topology is analyzed and the multiple modules system is established. Simulation results show that the HTSPPS with ICCOS exceeds the current limitations of the original one and ensures the reliable cutting off of the main switch. It has potential applications in the future of high-energy systems while reducing the cost greatly. By asynchronous cooperative triggered discharge of the multiple HTSPPS with ICCOS modules in parallel, the appropriate amplitude and flat shape current of the load can be achieved through the careful design of the trigger time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The STRETCH meat grinder is one typical inductive pulsed-power supply topology for electromagnetic launch system. It has remarkable current amplification ability as a single unit, but one module cannot provide enough amplitude and width for the load current of the railgun launching. This paper discusses the effects of different triggering delays on the load current with two STRETCH meat grinder modules. To reduce the magnetic field coupling between the two modules, the two main switches are opened simultaneously. To make the load current waveform with no notch, the thyristor of the first module is triggered when its pulse-forming capacitor is fully reversely charged. For the thyristor of the second module, we consider several time points of triggering delay. Because of the practical constraint for the maximum rail current that ensures no rail erosion, the rectangular waveform is the most appropriate load current waveform. Therefore, the comparing criterion can be defined as the ratio of the load current waveform area and its maximum rectangle area at different current levels. Higher ratio means that the current is more like a rectangular wave and is better accordingly. Based on the above criterion and extensive simulation research, we found that the best delay time is the moment when the capacitor is reversely charging the inductor completely. This paper and the result are of great theoretical significance for the further study on the collaborative triggering of multiple STRETCH meat grinder modules. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper describes the design, implementation, and comparison of high-voltage capacitor chargers for a solid-state pulsed power modulator (SSPPM). The three different converter topologies are a series resonant converter operating at a discontinuous conduction mode with switching frequency control (SRC_DCM_SFC), a series resonant converter operating at a continuous conduction mode with phase shifted pulse width modulation control (SRC_CCM_PSPWMC), and a series–parallel resonant converter operating at the CCM with SFC (SPRC_CCM_SFC). On the basis of these converter topologies, 10\-kW\rm{average} high-voltage capacitor chargers are designed for the three types of SSPPMs, which have the following maximum output specifications: 1) SRC_DCM_SFC: 60 kV, 300 A, 3 kpps, and 50 \mus; 2) SRC_CCM_PSPWMC: 10 kV, 50 A, 50 kpps, and 10 \mus; and 3) SPRC_CCM_SFC: 40 kV, 150 A, 7 kpps, and 10 \mus. Although the pulse output specifications are different, it is worth comparing the resonant inverter topologies and the control methods from the viewpoint of the losses, control characteristics, and merits and demerits of the high-voltage capacitor chargers. From the analysis and investigation of the three resonant inverters, the design procedure, including the determination of the resonant tank parameters, is provided, which considers the design of the high-voltage capacitor charger. PSPICE simulation is used to elucidate the effects of the resonant tank structure and its parameters, and the resonant current waveform and losses of the Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor are compared. Finally, experiments for each charger are performed under various load conditions, and the comparison results of the three capacitor chargers, including the conduction and switching losses, control characteristics, and overall efficiency, are discussed in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 200 kJ pulsed power system (PPS) has been built up to drive pulsed plasma devices. This PPS consists of two 100 kJ capacitor bank modules, each comprising of five capacitors of each 178~\mu \textF , a discharge switch, and a pulse-shaping unit. When both the banks are charged simultaneously to −15 kV using full charging technique, it delivers a peak current 100 kA at the load (damping resistor and pulse-shaping inductor). Later on, a plasma system will be attached at the load which will also have an inductive and resistive effect. A fiber-optic triggering unit controls both the modules and there exists a flexibility of sometimes operating a single module only, besides there are provisions for further up gradation of the PPS to a targeted 600 kJ. Prior to this development, PSpice simulation was carried out to estimate the parameters of the circuit components to achieve the required wave pulse with precision. Using these parameters, a design of the PPS was made keeping into account about the critical issues involved and the ratings of the components, some of which were fabricated in house. This paper basically includes the criticality surrounding the operation of a high-energy long-pulse PPS under negative operating voltage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses inductive pulsed power generators and their major components. Different inductive storage designs, such as solenoids, toroids, and force-balanced coils, are briefly presented and their advantages and disadvantages are mentioned. Special emphasis is given to inductive circuit topologies, which have been investigated in railgun research, such as the XRAM, meat grinder, or pulse transformer topologies. One section deals with opening switches as they are indispensable for inductive storages and another one deals briefly with superconducting magnetic energy storage for pulsed power applications. Finally, the most relevant inductor systems, which have been realized with respect to railgun research, are summarized in Table I, together with their main characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With inherent strengths in energy density and power density, the inductive pulsed power supplies (IPPS) have become an attractive option for the power supplies in electromagnetic launch systems. The meat grinder circuits, including the slow transfer of energy through capacitive hybrid (STRETCH) meat grinder circuit, the STRETCH meat grinder with inverse current commutation with semiconductor devices circuit, and the meat grinder with self-charged capacitor and thyristors circuit, constitute one major branch among the IPPS circuits. This paper summarizes the fundamental research work and contributions of the meat grinder circuits from the perspectives of circuit improvements, performance analysis, inductor design, module collaboration, and efficiency promotion. The future directions of single IPPS module are higher energy level, larger energy density, and higher efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this paper, pulsed-power technology was applied to plasma printing, which is a maskless plasma patterning solution that is being developed for the fabrication process of printed electronics. A high-voltage pulse source was developed and applied to a high-speed plasma printer to improve the speed of plasma printing. Experiments on plasma printing were used to compare the performance of the pulse source with the currently used alternating-current source. From plasma experiments, an electrical plasma model was derived for the plasma printer. Different parameters were investigated, such as the plasma energy as a function of gap distance, applied voltage, and the total amount of plasma that was generated. From these experiments, a connection was made between the plasma energy and the print effectiveness to arrive at optimal parameter values for fast plasma printing. It was concluded that higher plasma energy leads to higher print effectiveness, which leads to an increase in plasma print speed by a factor of 10 when using the pulse source. Moreover, scaling the PlasmaPint technology to reach higher print speeds is achievable by using more print heads or print heads with more tips. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]