Performance of pulsed power generator using high voltage static induction thyristor

In present pulsed power generator systems using semiconductor switches, saturable magnetic switches are usually connected in series to compress the output pulse because the current rise time of semiconductor switches are generally not short enough. However, these magnetic switches are heavy and they reduce the energy transfer efficiency. Here, the authors propose a pulsed power generator system using 5500 V static induction thyristor (SI-Thy) and a Blumlein line for pulse formation, and its fundamental characteristics are evaluated. From experiments using only one SI-Thy, they obtained a turn-on time of several tens of nanoseconds and a maximum rise rate of the output voltage of 96 kV//spl mu/s. It is confirmed that SI-Thy will have sufficient performance as the main switch of the pulsed power generator for flue gas treatment and decomposition of hazardous gases if several devices are connected in series.