Solid-state high voltage, DC power distribution and control

Future high voltage, high power systems in the early stages of planning include U.S. large accelerator programs such as the Next Linear Collider (NLC), Spallation Neutron Source (SNS), and international systems at DESY, CERN and KEK. There are also many nuclear fusion and multi-megawatt systems proposed for construction or upgrade. Each of these programs faces the challenge of distributing and controlling the high power required by tens to hundreds of RF amplifier tubes (e.g., klystrons) cost effectively. In this paper, we present a new approach for distributing and modulating power based upon recent technological developments in high voltage, high power, solid state switching. DTI's development of fast, high voltage, opening and closing solid state switches enable, for the first time at high voltage, a nearly lossless "DC transformer". With this DC transformer (i.e., down converter or buck regulator), it is now possible to distribute unregulated high voltage DC power in a large facility, and regulate and control it at the klystron. This approach is significantly more compact, less expensive, and more reliable than conventional methods of power distribution.