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High-Current, Solid-State Switch for Dense Plasma Focus Applications

delete2025-11-01
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PRE
AI
J
J. T. Bonnema
S
S. Lisgo
A
A.J.M. Pemen
T
T. Huiskamp *
DOI:10.1109/TPS.2025.3630051delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Project Elpis investigates the use of a plasma focus (PF) as a commercial radiation source, ideally for fusion energy generation. A PF is a type of pinch in which a short-lived, hot, and dense plasma is created, in which fusion reactions can take place. Since this is an energy-dense pulsed apparatus, eventually a suitable pulse source must be designed. First, the requirements for the initial research prototype have been determined (10 kV, 10 kJ, 500 kA, and 25 $\mu $ s). Due to the requirement for a long operational lifetime, in this work, we will investigate a solid-state pulse switch implementation and develop a first (lower power, 1-kV) prototype for the initial research demonstrator. Different solid-state switches (an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) and two MOS-gated thyristors) have been experimentally selected for their current conduction capabilities in the required regime, after which a final selection is made. Next, a sinusoidal discharge pulse source is designed to measure the current-sharing performance of four such switches in parallel. The results show a desirable current sharing performance (<15% difference) below 20-kA peak. Simultaneously, a simulation model is developed to aid in further system design. Next, a switch module consisting of 16 switches in parallel has been designed. Again, sufficient current sharing behavior is observed (<5% difference) up to 140-kA peak (single-shot and destructive) and 70-kA peak for repetitive operation. Finally, simulations demonstrating the feasibility of the 500-kA prototype are shown, as well as a successful simulated operation with PF.
Keywords:
Switches
Thyristors
Plasmas
Switching circuits
Prototypes
MOSFET
Voltage
Logic gates
Discharges (electric)
Insulated gate bipolar transistors
Plasma focus (PF)
solid-state pulsed power
solid-state pulsed power switch

Journal

IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science cover
IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science
IF:
1.5
Papers:
551
Citations:
1.3W

Organization

E
Eindhoven University of Technology
Scholars:
1.6W
Papers: 1.5W
Citations: 2.2W
Cited Papers

Cited Papers

A Study of a 5.2-kV/100-mm Thyristor Triggered in Impact-Ionization Mode Toward Fast High-Current Applications
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errShahriari,Ejlal; Maysonnave,Thomas; Gusev,Anton I.; de Ferron,Antoine Silvestre; Pecastaing,Laurent
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Superfast Thyristor-Based Switches Operating in Impact-Ionization Wave Mode
err2016-10-01
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errGusev,Anton I.; Lyubutin,Sergei K.; Rukin,Sergei N.; Tsyranov,Sergei N.
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Fast high-power thyristors triggered in impact-ionization wave mode
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PREAI
errGusev,A.; Lyubutin,S.; Patrakov,V.; Rukin,S.; Slovikovsky,B.; Barnes,M.J.; Kramer,T.; Senaj,V.
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An RLL Current Sharing Snubber for Multiple Parallel IGBTs in High Power Applications
err2022-07-01
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PREAI
errWang, Yun; Wang, Jiazhi; Liu, Fulin; Liu, Qianyi; Zou, Runmin
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