Real time controller for dielectric barrier discharge using DSP

Dielectric-Barrier discharge (DBD) is the electrical discharge between two electrodes separated by an insulating dielectric barrier, originally called silent discharge. It is also known as ozone production discharge or partial discharge. The process normally uses high-voltage alternating current, ranging from lower RF to microwave frequencies. However, other methods were developed to extend the frequency range down to DC. Drivers for this type of electric load are power RF-generators that contain a transformer for high voltage generation. The operation mode and the topologies of the circuits for generating continuous sine, square waves, pulse-modulated sine, and more are different. There are two major modes of operation: resonant mode and forced mode. In resonant mode the energy that is stored in the system´s capacitance does not have to be recovered to be intermediately supplied after each ignition. Instead, it can remain within the circuit and only the real power that is consumed by the system has to be provided by the power supply. On the other hand, the resonant mode operation depends on the system´s capacitance and induction. Here, we show a flexible circuit, based on real-time DSP and a full H-bridge that combines the two topologies and which may be used to adaptively drive DBDs with varying capacitance.