Energy efficiency of inductive energy storage system pulsed power generator using fast recovery diode

Abstract

Characteristics of inductive energy storage system pulsed power generator with semiconductor opening switch (SOS) diodes are investigated with focusing on an energy transfer efficiency from the generator to the resistive load. Fast recovery diodes VMI K100UF were used as SOS and were connected in series and/or in parallel to realize a large current and a high output voltage. The output voltage increases with increasing circuit inductance L and/or primary capacitor capacitance C. The reverse pumping time also increases with LC value and is saturated to 100 ns at LC=50×10-15 HF. The pulse width of the output voltage increases gradually with increasing value of the LC multiplication. The energy transfer efficiency of the generator to the resistive load has a maximum value of 71% at C=4nF and L=12.6μH when the load resistance is 122 ω. This value is almost two times larger than 56 ω of the surge impedance Zs = √L/C and much smaller than impedance of the SOS diodes after interrupting the circuit current. The maximum energy transfer efficiency decreases from 71 to 32% with decreasing LC value from 50×10-15 to 1.2×10-15 HF. © 2009 The Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan.