Investigation on a fast rise time high voltage pulse transformer

Area of Science:

• Electrical Engineering
• Pulsed Power Technology

Background:

• Pulse transformers are crucial for high voltage pulse generators due to their compactness and longevity.
• Developing transformers with fast rise times and compact structures is essential for advancing pulse power systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To numerically and experimentally investigate a fast rise time, compact high voltage pulse transformer.
• To analyze the impact of design choices, such as paralleled winding groups and feed structure, on transformer performance.

Main Methods:

• Numerical simulations were employed to assess the response and insulation characteristics of the designed pulse transformer.
• Experimental validation involved building the transformer and conducting scaling experiments to evaluate its performance, including the influence of the feed structure.
• The transformer's performance was tested in a low impedance generator setup.

Main Results:

• A compact, fast rise time high voltage pulse transformer was successfully designed, simulated, and built.
• High voltage pulses of approximately 260 kV peak voltage, 170 ns duration, and 65 ns rise time were achieved on a 32 Ω load.
• Experimental results showed good agreement with numerical analysis, validating the transformer's design and performance.

Conclusions:

• The developed pulse transformer demonstrates excellent performance characteristics, including a fast rise time and high peak voltage.
• The compact design with paralleled winding groups is effective for high voltage pulse generation.
• The study confirms the viability of this pulse transformer for integration into low impedance generators for demanding pulse power applications.