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This study presents a simplified design for a solid state pulsed power modulator (SSPPM) based on a power cell structure. Similar to the Marx generator, the power cell structure has advantages such as reliability and modularity. In addition, the proposed SSPPM includes a capacitor charger that is simple and compact. The operating principle of, and the design considerations taken for, the SSPPM are discussed from a practical viewpoint. Based on a reasonable approximation, simplified design equations are developed for a capacitor charger and a high-voltage pulse-switching part, which are comprised of an LCC resonant converter and a power stage, respectively. Accordingly, detailed design procedures are proposed to develop the SSPPM with the following specifications: 40 kV, 20 A, 300 μs, 200 Hz, and 50 kW. The experimental results verify the specifications at the rated operating condition with an efficiency of 92.4%, and also confirm reliable arc-protection performance. Finally, the proposed design methodology, which utilizes simplified equations, can be used for designing an SSPPM based on the power cell structure for extensive applications. [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]