A compact high-voltage pulse generator with opening insulated-gate bipolar transistor switch and a high pulse repetition rate

A small-size high-voltage (∼20 kV) microsecond pulse generator, which is based on a pulse transformer and loaded into a reactor with a pulse corona discharge, is described. Insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) that form the switch are used in the low-voltage circuit of the generator. When the switch is open, voltage pulses with an amplitude of up to 1000 V are created across it and, hence, across the primary winding of the transformer. The pulse repetition rate of the generator is ∼20000 pulses/s.