Transformer resonant converter
Some embodiments may include a nanosecond pulser comprising a plurality of solid state switches; a transformer having a stray inductance, L s , a stray capacitance, C s , and a turn ratio n; and a resistor with a resistance, R, in series between the transformer and the switches. In some embodiments, the resonant circuit produces a Q factor according to Q = 1 R L s C s ; and the nanosecond pulser produces an output voltage V out from an input voltage V in , according to V out =QnV in .
1. A resonant converter circuit comprising:
a DC input providing an input voltage V in ;
a plurality of solid state switches electrically coupled with the DC input;
a transformer comprising:
a transformer core,
a primary side comprising a conductive sheet wrapped at least around a portion of the transformer core, the conductive sheet electrically coupled with the plurality of solid state switches;
a secondary side comprising a plurality of secondary windings wrapped at least around a portion of the transformer core,
a stray inductance, L s ,
a stray capacitance, C s , and
a turn ratio, n;
a resistor with a resistance, R, disposed in series between the conductive sheet of the transformer and the plurality of solid state switches;
a plurality of rectifier diodes coupled with the plurality of secondary windings; and
a circuit output coupled with the plurality of rectifier diodes;
wherein the resonant converter circuit produces a Q factor according to
Q
=
1
R
L
s
C
s
;
and
wherein the resonant converter circuit produces output pulses at the circuit output with an output voltage V out from the input voltage V in , according to V out =QnV in .
2. The resonant converter circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the output pulses have a voltage greater than about 10 kV.
3. The resonant converter circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the output pulses have a frequency greater than 25 kHz.
4. The resonant converter circuit according to claim 1 , wherein a resonant frequency is greater than 100 kHz.
5. The resonant converter circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the output pulses have an output power greater than 5 kW.
6. The resonant converter circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the output pulses have an output power greater than 50 kW.
7. The resonant converter circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the resonant converter circuit has a switching transition time less than 40 ns.
8. The resonant converter circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the resonant converter circuit has a total circuit inductance less than about 300 nH as measured on a primary side of the transformer.
9. The resonant converter circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the resonant converter circuit operates with a total circuit capacitance of less than about 100 pF as measured on a secondary side of the transformer.
10. The resonant converter circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the output pulses have a rise time, with a voltage slew rate greater than 10 9 V/s.
11. The resonant converter circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the resonant converter circuit has a power density greater than 1 W/cm 3 .
12. The resonant converter circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the stray capacitance C s comprises more than 50% of a total circuit resonant capacitance C.
13. A resonant converter circuit comprising:
a transformer having:
a transformer core;
a conductive sheet wrapped at least around a portion of the transformer core;
a plurality of secondary windings wrapped at least around a portion of the transformer core;
a stray inductance, L s , wherein the stray inductance, L s , is not from an inductor;
a stray capacitance, C s , wherein the stray capacitance, C s , is not from a capacitor; and
a resistor with a resistance, R, in series with the transformer;
wherein the resonant converter circuit produces a Q factor according to
Q
=
1
R
L
s
C
s
.
14. The resonant converter circuit according to claim 13 , wherein the transformer has a turn ratio n and the resonant converter circuit produces an output voltage, V out , from an input voltage V in , according to V out =QnV in .
15. The resonant converter circuit according to claim 13 , wherein the resonant converter circuit produces a pulse with a voltage greater than about 10 kV.
16. The resonant converter circuit according to claim 13 , wherein the resonant converter circuit operates at a resonant frequency greater than 0.1 MHz.
17. The resonant converter circuit according to claim 13 , wherein the resonant converter circuit produces pulses with a switching transition time less than 40 ns.
18. The resonant converter circuit according to claim 13 , wherein the resonant converter circuit has a total circuit inductance less than about 300 nH as measured on a primary side of the transformer.
19. The resonant converter circuit according to claim 13 , wherein the resonant converter circuit operates with a total circuit capacitance less than about 100 pF as measured on a secondary side of the transformer.
20. The resonant converter circuit according to claim 13 , wherein the output pulses have a rise time, with a voltage slew rate greater than 10 9 V/s.
21. The resonant converter circuit according to claim 13 , wherein the resonant converter circuit produces output pulses with a power density greater than 1 W/cm 3 .
22. The resonant converter circuit according to claim 13 , wherein the resonant converter circuit does not include an inductor.
23. The resonant converter circuit according to claim 13 , wherein the resonant converter circuit does not include a capacitor.
24. The resonant converter circuit according to claim 13 , wherein a ratio between a peak output power and an average output power is greater than a factor of 10.
25. The resonant converter circuit according to claim 13 , wherein the stray inductance L s comprises more than 50% of a total circuit inductance.
26. The resonant converter circuit according to claim 13 , wherein output pulses have a rise time with a voltage slew rate greater than 10 9 V/s.