High Power Custom Power Supplies

Using our core IGBT-based switching technology, Eagle Harbor Technologies develops unique power supplies for complicated applications. Custom supplies typically include fiber optic gate control, high voltage isolation, and precision timing. The waveform generated is specified by the customer and intended for a given application. With fast rise/fall times, PWM control, resonant and tail biter topologies, and extensive circuit design expertise, almost any waveform can be produced.

See case studies below.

Fast Magnetic Reduction / Reestablishment Supply

This power supply drives magnetic field coils. The output is 5 kA, 500 kHz PWM and a fast rise time. Quickly reducing and reestablishing the magnetic field (rise/fall times were independently controlled) is built-in. Two IPM-16Ps were used with two capacitor banks to produce the magnet current waveform shown in the figure (Ch1).

High Current Magnet Driver with Pulse Width Modulation Capabilities

This features parallel operation of the IPMs. Fast switching frequencies and accurate pulse width resolution make for fine PWM control. This power supply switches 40 kA at 100 kHz PWM to drive an inductive load (electromagnet coils). The supply consisted of sixteen IPM-16PPs operating in parallel at 2.5 kA per module for ~ 10 ms. The figure shows the collector-emitter voltage of the IGBT (Ch2) and the current in the load (Ch3). Midway through the pulse, the pulse width was changed to change the current in the load.

Pulse Width Modulation Current Stepping for Plasma Arc

This PWM supply steps the current in a plasma arc. Using the fast switching characteristics of the IPM-16P (1 MHz), the supply was used to produce a current waveform in a resistive load that first jumped to 5 kA and then later upped to 10 kA. The fall time for the current was set by the L/R time of the load.

Series Stack of IPMs for Electron Gun Driver

EHT developed a 10 kV, 1 kA electron gun driver. This power supply used 12 IPMs in a series stack configuration with fast rise/fall times. The power supply was used in an intense plasma physics laboratory environment, where high voltage noise isolation was important. The figure shows the inverted load voltage (Ch1), the collector-emitter voltage across the series stack as measured with a resistive voltage divider (Ch2) and the gate signal (Ch4). The rise time was less than 40 ns. Other potential applications include: Klystron drivers, particle accelerator modulators, and tube replacements.

Piezoelectric Crystal Driver for Fast Puff Valve Applications

This IPM-4PP-based supply drives piezoelectric crystals. The supply has an adjustable output voltage (up to 1 kV) and current limited load (1 A) to avoid damage to the crystal. The supply drives the crystal at 100 kHz. The piezoelectric crystal was part of a custom fast puff valve designed for precision gas handling control in fusion experiments. The figure shows the collector-emitter voltage across the IGBT during switching.

Half-Bridge Resonant Circuit

To drive series resonant (LC) tank circuits, this dual IPM-16P power supply was designed. EHT half-bridges are used to drive coils and antennas to generate inductively coupled plasmas and helicon plasma waves. These designs can be operated at high frequency (< 5 MHz). EHT has produced tank circuits with high Q ranging from 10 – 60, which allows the half-bridge to produce high voltage (40 kV) across the antenna. Higher power is achieved with a transformer or more parallel IPMs. A rectifier can be added for fast capacitor bank charging, producing a DC output on the capacitor.