A High-Current All-Solid-State Pulse Generator Based on Marx Structure

Abstract

In recent years, semiconductor switches have gradually replaced traditional gas switches due to their long lifetime and smaller volume. However, the rated current of the semiconductor switches limits the applications of the all-solid-state pulsed power generators. Usually, multiple semiconductor switches or pulse generators are required in parallel to share a large current in the case of the enormous power applications. In this article, a new high-current all-solid-state pulsed power generator based on Marx generators connected in parallel was proposed. One group of semiconductor switches was used to control the charging of the Marx generators. The driving circuits can be simplified due to fewer switches. It can also improve the discharge frequency and the output voltage over a capacitive load. Six 4-stage Marx generators connected in parallel have been employed to verify the proposed topologies on a capacitive and a resistive load. From the experimental results, with 1.2 kV, 150 A, and 2.4 kV, 50 A, pulses have been got on an 8-Ω resistive load and a 440-pF capacitive load, respectively. The balanced output currents can reduce the output voltage overshoot and make the system more stable and reliable.