New Marx Generator Architecture With a Controllable Output Based on IGBTs

In this paper, a new architecture of a high-voltage Marx pulse generator based on isolated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) is proposed. It allows continuous control of the output voltage by acting on the IGBTs activation time: “on-time.” The final after-charging capacitors' voltage can be higher than the double of the input voltage. A simplified mathematical description of the system was developed in order to find a relation between the output voltage and the “On-time” (an open-loop control law). A SPICE simulation was implemented to check the expected performances and to verify the developed model. A three-stage generator was built according to the proposed structure using commercial IGBTs with a maximum output voltage of 3.6 kV. All results were compared to check and confirm the validity of the proposed architecture.