Solid state bipolar Marx modulator for nonthermal plasma aplications

Summary form only given. A novel solid-state bipolar high-voltage modulator topology, based on the Marx generator concept, is proposed for high- voltage repetitive pulsed power applications, such as pollution control, where catalysis and nonthermal processes are used to reduce the amount of toxins like NOx as well SOx that are emitted to the atmosphere when burning fossil fuels. The proposed topology is a generalized version of the unipolar negative and positive all solid-state Marx modulator concepts. Due to the semiconductor topology, with four on/off switches and two on switches per stage, it possible to make positive and negative unipolar pulses, as well as bipolar pulses with different pulse widths and relaxation times between the positive and negative pulses, at different duty cycles and frequencies. In additions, the fact that different switches are used for charge the main capacitors and to apply a pulse to the load the losses are limited. The use of optical fibers to synchronously trigger the semiconductors and of an auxiliary diode string to feed the semiconductor triggering stages at high-voltage is discussed. Experimental results of a five stages modulator connected to a plasma-driven catalytic reactor are presented and discussed.