A Novel Multi-Level High Voltage Pulsed Power Generator

This paper presents a novel solid-state and high power pulse generation technique that is suitable for a wide range of pulsed power applications. The technique, termed as multi-level pulsed power converter, can be considered as a hybrid of the direct discharge type and the Marx generator but with considerably less complexity in both control and circuitry. It has the ability for generating pulses with flexible amplitude and duration similar to that of a Marx generator, and unlike the direct discharge type requires no voltage balancing and snubbing circuitry. As voltage balancing is inherent to the technique, the timing between switching events is not critical to balance the voltage stresses and as such the driving circuitry of the converter is relatively simple. The validity of the proposed technique is verified by presenting both theoretical analysis and simulation results of a 3-stage, 3 kV converter.