Switching characteristics of vacuum gap switch employing UV‐laser triggering

The switching time and arc‐ignition probability of a sustained main discharge in a laser trigger vacuum gap were measured. The third harmonic beam of an Nd:YAG pulse laser (wavelength 355 nm, energy 5 mJ/pulse, power density 4 × 10⁷ W/cm²) was used to trigger the gap. The main electrodes 85 mm in diameter were made of oxygen‐free copper. The gap length was 1.6 mm and the experimental chamber was evacuated to about 1.3 × 10⁴ Pa by a turbomolecular pump. The UV beam from the laser was focused at normal incidence onto the grounded cathode. The switching time decreased and the arc‐ignition probability increased with increasing applied voltage. The switching time was 326 ns at 15 kV with a circuit inductance of 107 μH. Its jitter was 24.8 ns. The advantageous results obtained with the UV beam are compared to the previously reported data on triggered vacuum gaps. © 2000 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 132(3): 8–13, 2000     

Laser‐induced discharge in a rod–plane electrode in the presence of a negative dc electric field

Discharge induction experiments were performed between a plate and a rod on a plate electrode configuration with a gap length of 1 m using a high‐power CO₂ laser and a dc voltage generator. The electrodes are parallel planes. Each plate electrode consists of a central flat part having a diameter of 3 m with a circular edge on a cross section. The length of the rod is 10 cm. A chain of plasma beads of length 10 cm was created on the tip of the rod by the CO₂ laser and used for artificial triggering of negative high‐voltage sparkover. The behavior of streamer, leader, and return stroke was observed by an image converter camera. It was found that a positive upward traveling leader can be triggered from the tip of the rod on the lower plane to the upper plane by the chain of plasma beads created by the CO₂ laser. This apparatus is useful for study for realization of laser‐induced lightning. © 2000 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 132(4): 19–27, 2000     

激光触发变磁超导断路开关和功率脉冲电源

为了实现超导环境下电感储能的快速释放,设计了一种基于Meissner效应的激光触发变磁超导断路开关,基于该断路开关的电感式功率脉冲电源采用外置工频供电常温充电器,采用LCC逆变电路,省去中间的高频变压器,逆变输出直接整流对中间储能电容充电、再由电容向超导电感放电储能的拓扑结构。首先进行变磁超导断路开关的结构设计,说明其基于Meissner效应的工作原理及进行影响断路性能的因素分析。之后利用有限元分析的方法,对超导薄膜失超前后开关内磁场分布进行仿真分析,并动态地模拟了耦合电感次级所获得的脉冲电流输出。在给出整个电感式功率脉冲电源系统的电路结构并简单分析了LCC逆变充电器的工作原理和参数选择方法后,对用固态开关模拟超导开关断开脉冲变压器初级最大电流而得到次级高压脉冲输出的工作进行了仿真和实验分析。结果表明,按所选取的参数,电源可实现前沿1.0μs、幅值30kV、脉宽(90%幅值)1.5μs的高压脉冲输出,重复工作频率可>2.5kHz;也可实现前沿8ns、幅值4.8kA的电流脉冲电流输出,充电器不仅实现了对中间储能电容的快速充电,而且稳态工作时的损耗不超过输入供电的5%。     

Formation of a negative impulse discharge induced by an XeCl excimer laser in a long rod‐to‐rod electrode gap in air

Negative discharge induction experiments were performed with a rod‐to‐rod electrode configuration having a gap length of 0.8 m using a high‐power XeCl excimer laser of maximum output energy of 2 J/pulse and an impulse generator of maximum voltage of 1.2 MV. Development of a leader in the laser‐ionized plasma channel was observed by using an image converter camera. When an XeCl excimer laser is applied at a carefully controlled instant, the guiding effect for an impulse discharge is optimized. Three main results were obtained. First, the discharge started near the focal point and then developed bidirectionally toward the high‐voltage electrode and the grounded electrode. Midgap leaders were frequently observed. Second, it was observed that the lifetime of the laser‐ionized plasma channel was about 1 μs. Third, the discharge processes were classified into six stages. The mechanism of the streamer and leader propagation is discussed. © 2000 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 134(2): 11–18, 2001     

Low‐noise blue light generation of intracavity frequency‐doubled LD‐pumped Cr:LiSAF laser by single‐mode method

We have demonstrated the production of low‐noise blue SHG (Second Harmonic Generation) light by single‐mode oscillation in an intracavity frequency‐doubled laser diode (LD)‐pumped Cr‐doped LiSrAlF₆ (Cr:LiSAF) solid‐state laser. The SHG crystal was LiB₃O₅ (LBO). A birefringent filter and an etalon plate were used for the single‐mode Cr:LiSAF laser oscillation wave. A maximum blue SHG output power of 32 mW was obtained by using a 1‐mm‐thick birefringent filter and an etalon plate 200 μm thick with 20% reflectivity. The oscillation wavelength varied by 0.24 pm/hPa in response to changes in atmospheric pressure. A long‐term stability of 300 hours was obtained with the cavity enclosed in a barostat. © 2001 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 138(1): 49–55, 2002     

Development of diode‐pumped solid‐state laser HALNA for fusion reactor driver

The diode‐pumped slab laser for inertial fusion energy driver has been demonstrated, which produces the 1053‐nm output energy of 10 J at 10 Hz. The glass slab laser amplifier has been pumped by quasi‐CW 290‐kW AlGaAs laser‐diode arrays at 803 nm. The optical system can compensate for thermal effects by use of zigzag optical propagation, image‐relayed telescope, and 45^° Faraday rotator. The output energy of 10.6 J at 1 Hz with the optical‐to‐optical conversion efficiency of 19.9% has been successfully obtained. Also, the 10‐Hz operation has been performed with an output energy of 5.1 J. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 155(2): 27–35, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20288     

Estimation of output voltage for high‐speed,surface permanent magnet generator with large air gap length

This paper presents a method to estimate the output voltage of a high‐speed, surface permanent magnet generator with large air gap length at design stage. The output voltage is estimated by the induced electromotive force and the synchronous inductance obtained from the analytical results of the flux linkage using FEM. Also, a method to classify the synchronous inductance per causative factor is proposed. The air gap leakage inductance is not negligible in a large‐air‐gap machine like this generator. The validity of the proposed method has been proved by the measured values of a generator designed by this method, and the measured values also show that the output voltage of the generator is within the permissible range. The method proposed in this paper will be an effective tool to design a high‐speed, surface permanent magnet generator with large air gap length. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 153(2): 52–60, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20228     

高功率Z-Pinch脉冲源技术的发展

概述了脉冲功率系统中的电容储能、电感储能和磁感应储能技术。基于直线型脉冲变压器（LTD）、电感储能（LES）、等离子体断路开关（POS）以及真空磁绝缘传输线（MITL）技术的低电感、模块化脉冲源将来可能作为基本的子模块应用于超大型高功率Z－Pinch装置。     

Series resonant ZCS‐PFM DC‐DC power converter with high‐frequency high‐voltage transformer link for high‐power magnetron drive

This paper presents a single lossless inductive snubber‐assisted ZCS‐PFM series resonant DC‐DC power converter with a high‐frequency high‐voltage transformer link for industrial‐use high‐power magnetron drive. The current flowing through the active power switches rises gradually at a turned‐on transient state with the aid of a single lossless snubber inductor, and ZCS turn‐on commutation based on overlapping current can be achieved via the wide range pulse frequency modulation control scheme. The high‐frequency high‐voltage transformer primary side resonant current always becomes continuous operation mode, by electromagnetic loose coupling design of the high‐frequency high‐voltage transformer and the magnetizing inductance of the high‐frequency high‐voltage transformer. As a result, this high‐voltage power converter circuit for the magnetron can achieve a complete zero current soft switching under the condition of broad width gate voltage signals. Furthermore, this high‐voltage DC‐DC power converter circuit can regulate the output power from zero to full over audible frequency range via the two resonant frequency circuit design. Its operating performances are evaluated and discussed on the basis of the power loss analysis simulation and the experimental results from a practical point of view. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 153(3): 79–87, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20126     

A switch‐utilization‐improved switched‐inductor switched‐capacitor converter with adapting stage number

A novel closed‐loop switched‐inductor switched‐capacitor converter (SISCC) is proposed by using the pulse‐width‐modulation (PWM) compensation for the step‐up DC–DC conversion/regulation, and together by combining the adaptive‐stage‐number (ASN), control for the higher switch utilization and wider supply voltage range. The power part of SISCC is composed of two cascaded sub‐circuits, including (i) a serial‐parallel switched‐capacitor circuit with n_c pumping capacitors and (ii) a switched‐inductor booster with m_c resonant capacitors, so as to obtain the high step‐up gain of (n_c + 1) × m_c /(1 ? D) at most, where D is the duty cycle of PWM adopted to enhance output regulation as well as robustness to source/loading variation. Besides, the ASN control is presented with adapting the stage number n (n = 0, 1, 2, …, n_c) of pumping capacitors to obtain a flexible gain of (n + 1) × m_c /(1 ? D), and further in order to make the SISCC operating at a properly small duty cycle for improving switch utilization and/or supply voltage range. Some theoretical analysis and control design include formulation, steady‐state analysis, ASN‐based conversion ratio, efficiency, output ripple, stability, inductance and capacitance selection, and control design. Finally, the performance of this scheme is verified experimentally on an ASN‐based SISCC prototype, and all results are illustrated to show the efficacy of this scheme. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Energy storage system utilizing large‐capacity electric double‐layer capacitors for peak‐cut of power demand

Recently, due to a rapid increase of demand for air conditioning in summer, peak power demand is becoming increasingly acute. Therefore, the load factor has a tendency to drop every year. The drop of the load factor is leading to a drop in the utilization factor of the power facilities and an increase in the cost of installation. In this paper, we propose an energy storage system for peak‐cut of power demand, in which we use large‐capacity electric double‐layer capacitors. This energy storage system has some distinctive characteristics, including long life span, maintenance‐free operation, preservation of environment, high efficiency at charge/discharge, and so on. This paper deals with the circuit arrangement of the proposed energy storage system, the charge equalization method of the capacitors, and the control method of the converter at charge/discharge. Finally, the operating characteristics of this system are evaluated by simulation analysis. © 2000 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 133(3): 83‐92, 2000     

Direct‐connected multiple current‐source converters for SMES system

The superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) system would be a valuable system for power line stabilization. It would increase stability by supporting peak energy and compensating generation shortage. With the development of a large‐capacity GTO thyristor suitable for 20‐MW‐level power conversion systems, it is possible to control the four‐quadrant real power (P) and the reactive power (Q) condition by self‐commutated power converters with high performance. This paper describes a new direct‐connected multiple current‐source converter, and also explains suitable control strategies for the pilot plant of an SMES system. The feasibility of the control strategies is demonstrated by EMTP simulation results. © 2000 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 133(1): 87–96, 2000     

Dynamic modeling of a dual active bridge DC to DC converter with average current control and load‐current feed‐forward

Bidirectional power flow is needed in many power conversion systems like energy storage systems, regeneration systems, power converters for improvement of the power quality and some DC‐DC applications where bidirectional high power conversion and galvanic isolation are required. The dual active bridge (DAB) is an isolated, high voltage ratio DC‐DC converter suitable for high power density and high power applications, being a key interface between renewable energy sources and energy storage devices. This paper is focused on the modeling and control design of a DC‐DC system with battery storage based on a DAB converter with average current mode control of the output current and output voltage control. The dynamic response of the output voltage to load steps is improved by means of an additional load‐current feed‐forward control loop. An analytical study of the load‐current feed‐forward is presented and validated by means of both simulations and experimental results. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analysis of the ZVS two‐switch forward converter with synchronous current doubler rectifier

A soft switching two‐switch forward converter is presented to achieve zero voltage switching (ZVS) turn‐on of switching devices. In the adopted converter, a buck‐boost type of active clamp is connected in parallel with the primary winding of transformer. The energy stored in the transformer leakage inductance and magnetizing inductance can be recovered so that the peak voltage stress of switching devices is limited. The resonance between the transient interval of two main and auxiliary switches is used to achieve ZVS turn‐on of all switches. The current doubler synchronous rectifier is used in the secondary side of transformer for reducing the root mean square value of output inductor current, transformer secondary winding current and output voltage ripple by cancelling the current ripple of two output inductors. First, the circuit configuration and the principles of operation are analyzed in detail. The steady‐state analysis and design consideration are also presented. Finally, experimental results with a laboratory prototype based on a 380 V input and 12 V/30 A output were provided to verify the effectiveness of the proposed converter. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

脉冲功率源用高耦合度储能电感研究

在电感储能型脉冲功率源中耦合电感是关键。首先从STRETCH Meat grinder 电路出发,阐明了高耦合度电感的概念,然后通过分析影响耦合度的关键因素给出了高耦合度储能电感的模型,并对耦合电感的电感量和磁场的计算进行了数学推导。为了进一步的了解耦合电感的磁场分布情况,本文对其进行了有限元仿真,得到了耦合电感的磁感应强度分布云图和能量分布云图,考虑到漏磁的存在,在文章的最后还对耦合电感的漏磁进行了仿真计算。通过本文的研究能够为脉冲功率源用高耦合度储能电感的优化设计提供一定的理论依据。     

A non‐isolated high step‐up DC‐DC converter with integrated 3 winding coupled inductor and reduced switch voltage stress

In this paper, a non‐isolated high step‐up dc‐dc converter based on coupled inductor is proposed. The proposed converter can be used in renewable energy applications. In suggested converter, the high voltage is achieved using 3‐winding coupled inductor, which leads to low voltage rate of the switch. A clamp circuit is used to recycle the leakage inductance energy. Also, the clamp circuit prevents the creation of voltage spikes on semiconductor devices and causes the voltage stress of elements are limited to less than the output voltage. The presented theoretical analyses show that the operation of suggested converter in continuous conduction mode needs to small magnetic inductor. Therefore, the size of coupled inductor's core is reduced, and so the size and cost of presented converter will be decreased. Analysis of the proposed converter is provided with laboratory results to verify its performance.     

Analysis and design of a two‐transformer active‐clamping forward converter with parallel‐connected current doubler rectifiers

A new two‐transformer active‐clamping forward converter with parallel‐connected current doubler rectifiers (CDRs) is proposed in this paper. The presented DC–DC converter is mainly composed of two active‐clamping forward converters with secondary CDRs. Only two switches are required and each one is the auxiliary switch for the other. The circuit complexity and cost are thus reduced. The leakage inductance of the transformer or an additional resonant inductance is employed to achieve zero‐voltage‐switching (ZVS) during the dead times. Two CDRs at the secondary side are connected in parallel to reduce the current stresses of the secondary windings and the ripple current at the output side. Accordingly, the smaller output chokes and capacitors decrease the converter volume and increase the power density. Detailed analysis and design of the presented two‐transformer active‐clamping forward converter are described. Experimental results are recorded for a prototype converter with a DC input voltage of 130??180V, an output voltage of 5 V and an output current of 40 A, operating at a switching frequency of 100 kHz. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Plasma behavior and characteristics of a pulsed‐laser‐driven MHD electrical power generation

The fundamental electrical power generation experiment of a pulsed‐laser‐driven magnet hydrodynamics generator with a divergent channel and segmented electrodes has been conducted with a rough estimate of gas heating efficiency of laser energy. The output energy is increased with the decrease in the initial filling gas pressure because of the increase in the gas velocity and the electrical conductivity with the gas temperature. The output power is surely improved in comparison with the previously examined generator with constant height channel and continuous electrode. About 70% of the incident laser energy is absorbed and less than 20% is transferred to the blast wave energy at low initial filling gas pressure in the present experimental setup.     

Characteristics and economic evaluation of a CO2‐capturing solar thermal hybrid power generation system with heat storage

For wide use of a power plant utilizing solar energy, improvement of its economics is important. Both the economics and characteristics of a CO₂‐capturing solar thermal hybrid power generation system are evaluated in this paper. Since a relatively low temperature steam of 220 °C is produced by using solar thermal energy and is utilized as the working fluid of a gas turbine, the solar collector can attain high heat collecting efficiency. The net fuel‐to‐electricity conversion efficiency of the hybrid system is estimated to be higher than 60% on the lower‐heating‐value‐ basis. It has been estimated that the gross income and the period of depreciation of the proposed system are 34.8 × 10⁵ yen/year and 8.89 years, respectively, and that the system is economically feasible, under the assumptions of a solar collector area of 10 ha, a maximum net power output of 4 MW, and a heat storage capacity of 2000 m³. The amount of fuel saving and reduction of CO₂ emission of our system, compared to a conventional natural gas firing plant, are also estimated in the paper. © 1999 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 126(4): 21–29, 1999     

A single‐stage integrated bridgeless AC/DC converter for electrolytic capacitor‐less LED lighting applications

In this paper, a single‐stage integrated bridgeless AC/DC converter is proposed. As compared to its counterpart that is composed of totem‐pole boost power factor correction (PFC) cascade fly‐back DC/DC converter, the studied circuit has less components number while overcoming the limits of the totem‐pole type. Thus, it is suitable to the low‐power LED lighting applications. Furthermore, when both PFC inductors L_b and magmatic inductance L_m of the transformer TR1 operate at discontinuous current mode, the bus voltage v_CB can be used to decouple the ac input and constant dc output power. Thus, the approach of increasing bus voltage ripple is employed to eliminate electrolytic capacitors and obtain long operation lifetime. Additionally, it is able to be compatible with our studied twin‐bus configuration for increasing the overall efficiency. A 50‐W hardware prototype has been designed, fabricated, and tested in the laboratory to verify the proposed converter validity. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.