High-voltage pulse modulated radio frequency generator for dielectric barrier discharge combined with ultra-fast high power pulse generator

Dielectric barrier discharge is the electrical discharge between two electrodes separated by an insulating dielectric barrier. The discharge process typically uses a high-voltage alternating current in the range of several kilohertz to several gigahertz. A high-frequency and high-power pulse generator is required to drive the discharge process through the capacitance load. There are two main techniques to implement this type of generator: the forced and resonant modes. This work demonstrates the implementation of a programmable digital circuit based on a digital signal controller and a full H-bridge that combines the two topologies and can be used as a controller for dielectric barrier discharge with varying capacitance and structure. We integrated an ultra-fast, high-resolution, and high-power pulse generator into a radio frequency generator to drive highpressure, supersonic, pulsed valves. The excitation based on our DBD and the combined generator produces cold plasma beams. The controller generates discharge voltages of up to 5 kV, in pulses of 10 to 50 mu s wide, at rates of up to 1 kHz, while the discharge frequency ranges are from 1 to 3 MHz under a capacitive load of 100 pF. The power generator applies a current pulse of up to 20 A and of to 150 V.