Design and Development of a Series-configuration Mazzilli Zero Voltage Switching Flyback Converter as a High-voltage Power Supply for Needleless Electrospinning

Abstract

Nanofiber is one-dimensional material that has broad application. It can be formed by applying a high-voltage source to a polymer solution so that the polymer solution becomes charged. Usingthe high electric field, the charged polymer solution is formed as a Taylor cone and then drawn to the collector to form long, nanoscale fibers. This method is known as electrospinning. There are two types of electrospinning method; they are needle and needleless electrospinning. The latter is intended for mass production nanofibers because it can make tens to hundreds ofjets at a time. Therefore, the high-voltage source required for the needleless electrospinning process must have a higher voltage and current compared to those for the needle one. Accordingly, the high voltage power supply using a series-configuration Mazzilli ZVS flyback converter was designed and developed. The Mazzilli flyback converter was able to generate a high voltage with relatively high power. Two converters were connected in series to achieve more output voltage. The output voltage was adjusted by changing the input voltage. The single converter could generate a high voltage up to 34kV whereas the series-configuration converter could increase the voltage by 98.41% to be 67kV. The output voltage of converter was relatively stable and good enough to perform nanofibers synthesis using the needleless electrospinning. Visual observation confirmed that the nanofibers were formed well on the collector.