Comparative study of SOS pulsed power generator and magnetic compression pulsed power generator for applications of pulsed streamer discharge

A pulsed power generator using a semiconductor opening switch (SOS) and the other pulsed power generator using a magnetic compression method were compared for applications of pulsed streamer discharge. The resistor and equivalent circuits of the discharge load were used as the load. The SOS generator outputted higher and shorter pulsed voltage with lower energy transfer efficiency comparing with the magnetic compression generator. Therefore, if a pulsed high voltage with comparatively short width is required, the SOS generator is more suitable. However, if a pulsed high voltage with long width is required, the magnetic compression generator is more suitable because of higher efficiency. Further, the decrease of the load impedance led to decrease of the peak value and the pulse width and the increase of the energy transfer efficiency. Hence, if initial discharge impedance is high and it decreases immediately after the pulsed voltage reached the maximum, the output of high peak and short width is obtained with higher efficiency. © 2015 The Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan.