Development of a Compact All-Solid-State Marx Generator with Multi-Channel Magnetic Isolation Gate-Gate Drive
Huang Jie1, Li Zi1, Rao Junfeng2, Jiang Song1, Wang Yonggang1
1. School of Mechanical Engineering University of Shanghai for Science and Technology Shanghai 200093 China; 2. Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences Suzhou 215163 China
Abstract：Pulsed electric fields have been proven effective for potable water disinfection by inactivating pathogenic bacteria through pulsed corona discharge, which disrupts microbial cell membranes. However, conventional pulse generators suffer from limited tunability, large volume, and heavy weight, which restrict treatment efficiency. In contrast, solid-state Marx generators based on semiconductor switches can deliver multi-parameter-adjustable high-voltage pulses within a much smaller footprint, aligning well with the miniaturization and portability trends of pulsed-power supplies. Most magnetically isolated gate drivers utilize series-connected magnetic cores with a single winding per switch, resulting in one driver per switch. This paper proposes a novel multi-channel magnetic-isolation gate-to-gate driving scheme for compact all-solid-state Marx generators. The proposed architecture substantially reduces the number of drive circuits and enables a single bipolar signal to control all switches within a half-bridge solid-state Marx generator. Firstly, this paper introduces the improved magnetic-isolation drive scheme and its working principle. The common-source characteristic of the charging and discharging switches in the Marx structure is analyzed. Combined with the structure of a multi-secondary-winding transformer, a multi-route drive is realized under a single magnetic core. Meanwhile, the working principle of the gate-gate drive circuit is elaborated, and the influence of parasitic parameters on the switching characteristics of MOSFETs under the common-source structure is analyzed. Secondly, the magnetic isolation transformer and high-voltage insulation of the gate drive are designed. The magnetic core material, coupling capacitance, and high-voltage insulation are analyzed. Compared with the commonly used ferrite magnetic cores, iron-based nanocrystalline magnetic cores offer high magnetic saturation, low coercivity, fast pulse response, and high permeability. Subsequently, the coupling capacitance is measured under various parameters, including the number of secondary windings and magnetic core size, and the impact of different parameters on coupling capacitance is analyzed. In addition, this paper proposes a simple and effective high-voltage isolation scheme according to the proposed compact drive design. Finally, a 29-stage prototype was fabricated and tested. It produces up to 20 kV with the rise and falling times below 65 ns (1 kΩ load), offers pulse-width adjustment from 0.2 μs to 200 μs, and operates stably at 5 kHz. With a volume of only 185 mm×96 mm×115 mm, the generator achieves a power density of 473 kW/L. The compact solid-state Marx generator meets the requirements for potable-water sterilization, enhancing output performance while markedly reducing size and weight for portable and distributed applications.
黄杰, 李孜, 饶俊峰, 姜松, 王永刚. 多路磁隔离栅-栅驱动的紧凑型全固态Marx发生器研制[J]. 电工技术学报, 2026, 41(10): 3327-3339.
Huang Jie, Li Zi, Rao Junfeng, Jiang Song, Wang Yonggang. Development of a Compact All-Solid-State Marx Generator with Multi-Channel Magnetic Isolation Gate-Gate Drive. Transactions of China Electrotechnical Society, 2026, 41(10): 3327-3339.
[1] 彭文成, 唐潇, 刘红梅, 等. 高压纳秒脉冲电场对同源细胞的杀伤差异性研究[J]. 电工技术学报, 2024, 39(20): 6544-6552. Peng Wencheng, Tang Xiao, Liu Hongmei, et al.Study on the killing difference of homologous cells by high-voltage nanosecond pulsed electric fields[J]. Transactions of China Electrotechnical Society, 2024, 39(20): 6544-6552. [2] 朱博, 马成勇, 吴国延, 等. 用于液体食品灭菌的双极性方波脉冲电源[J]. 电工技术学报, 2024, 39(16): 5121-5133. Zhu Bo, Ma Chengyong, Wu Guoyan, et al.A bipolar square-wave pulsed power supply for sterilization of liquid food[J]. Transactions of China Electrotechnical Society, 2024, 39(16): 5121-5133. [3] Zhang Jun, Zhang Dian, Fan Yuwei, et al.Progress in narrowband high-power microwave sources[J]. Physics of Plasmas, 2020, 27(1): 010501. [4] 樊立波, 黄佳斌, 韩荣杰, 等. 脉冲DBD体系SF6降解过程操作参数影响研究[J]. 高压电器, 2025, 61(6): 191-199, 209. Fan Libo, Huang Jiabin, Han Rongjie, et al.Research on effect of operating parameters on SF6 degradation in pulsed DBD system[J]. High Voltage Apparatus, 2025, 61(6): 191-199, 209. [5] Elserougi A, Ahmed S, Massoud A.Multi-module high voltage pulse generator based on DC-DC boost converter and CDVMs for drinking water puri- fication[C]//2016 IEEE International Conference on Industrial Technology (ICIT), Taipei, China, 2016: 334-338. [6] Wang Mansheng, Wang Langhong, Bekhit A E A, et al. A review of sublethal effects of pulsed electric field on cells in food processing[J]. Journal of Food Engineering, 2018, 223: 32-41. [7] Chang J S, Looy P C, Urashima K, et al.Pulsed arc discharge in water: mechanism of current conduction and pressure wave formations[C]//2000 Annual Report Conference on Electrical Insulation and Dielectric Phenomena, Victoria, BC, Canada, Aug. 2002: 105-108. [8] Elserougi A A, Faiter M, Massoud A M, et al.A transformerless bipolar/unipolar high-voltage pulse generator with low-voltage components for water treatment applications[J]. IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications, 2017, 53(3): 2307-2319. [9] Kiran T, Pethe S N, Krishnan R.Development of a pulse modulator to drive 6.19 MW Klystron for 15 MeV electron linac[C]//2014 International Sym- posium on Discharges and Electrical Insulation in Vacuum (ISDEIV), Mumbai, India, 2014: 569-571. [10] Hartzell J J, Kutsaev S V, Leyh G, et al.Interposed pulsed power system for fast separation of radioactive beams[J]. Journal of Instrumentation, 2021, 16(8): P08017. [11] Rao Junfeng, Zhang Rui, Shi Fukun, et al.A high- voltage solid-state Marx generator with adjustable pulse edges[J]. High Voltage, 2023, 8(5): 878-888. [12] 董守龙, 赵立胜, 项思哲, 等. 全固态参数可调脉冲电流源的研制[J]. 电工技术学报, 2025, 40(3): 812-820. Dong Shoulong, Zhao Lisheng, Xiang Sizhe, et al.Development of an all-solid-state pulse current generator with adjustable parameters[J]. Transactions of China Electrotechnical Society, 2025, 40(3): 812-820. [13] Figley C, Stensrud D.A stacked FET switch for use in a 20 kV klystron modulator[C]//Eighth IEEE Inter- national Conference on Pulsed Power, San Diego, CA, USA, 1991: 1001-1004. [14] Song S H, Ryoo H J.Solid-state bipolar pulsed power modulator for high-efficiency production of plasma activated water[J]. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, 2021, 68(11): 10634-10642. [15] Li Zi, Liu Haotian, Rao Junfeng, et al.Gate driving circuit for the all solid-state rectangular Marx generator[J]. IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, 2019, 47(8): 4058-4063. [16] 李东升, 李孜, 王永刚, 等. 具有快前沿的固态Marx电源的研究[J]. 强激光与粒子束, 2024, 36(2): 19-25. Li Dongsheng, Li Zi, Wang Yonggang, et al.Research on solid state Marx power supply with fast front[J]. High Power Laser and Particle Beams, 2024, 36(2): 19-25. [17] Ivanov E, Kutsaev S V, Pronikov A, et al.Ultralight- weight power system for human-portable linac-based X-ray sources[J]. IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, 2023, 70(9): 2158-2164. [18] Jo H B, Ahn J B, Jeong W C, et al.Compact design of 40 kV 100 A high-voltage pulsed-power modulator for driving X-band magnetrons[J]. IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, 2023, 38(6): 7598-7609. [19] 董守龙, 周晓宇, 余亮, 等. 基于磁隔离驱动的双极性Marx脉冲源研制[J]. 电工技术学报, 2023, 38(8): 2015-2024. Dong Shoulong, Zhou Xiaoyu, Yu Liang, et al.The development of bipolar Marx pulse generator based on magnetic isolated driver[J]. Transactions of China Electrotechnical Society, 2023, 38(8): 2015-2024. [20] Dong Shoulong, Bo Zongqing, Xiang Sizhe, et al.A magnetic isolated drive circuit based on half-bridge for bipolar Marx pulse generator[J]. IEEE Transa- ctions on Plasma Science, 2023, 51(10): 3188-3197. [21] Zhou Xiaoyu, Zhang Zhiwen, Dong Shoulong, et al.High voltage pulse generator based on a novel magnetic isolated drive circuit[J]. IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, 2022, 37(7): 8157-8166. [22] 姚皓伟, 李孜, 王永刚, 等. 一种紧凑型固态Marx发生器的研究[J]. 强激光与粒子束, 2024, 36(2): 025006. Yao Haowei, Li Zi, Wang Yonggang, et al.Investi- gation of a compact solid-state Marx generator[J]. High Power Laser and Particle Beams, 2024, 36(2): 025006. [23] Yuan Xinchen, Li Zi, Wang Yonggang, et al.A compact solid-state bipolar pulse adder for dielectric barrier discharges[J]. IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, 2025, 53(4): 487-496. [24] 李孜, 马睿一, 饶俊峰, 等. 小型化全固态方波Marx发生器的研究[J]. 强激光与粒子束, 2025, 37(2): 025001. Li Zi, Ma Ruiyi, Rao Junfeng, et al.Study of a miniaturized solid-state Marx generator[J]. High Power Laser and Particle Beams, 2025, 37(2): 025001. [25] Hu Jiewen, Wang Jun, Burgos R, et al.High-density current-transformer-based gate-drive power supply with reinforced isolation for 10-kV SiC MOSFET modules[J]. IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Power Electronics, 2020, 8(3): 2217-2226. [26] Jo H B, Song S H, Lee S H, et al.MOSFET gate driver circuit design for high repetitive (200 kHz) high voltage (10 kV) solid-state pulsed-power modu- lator[J]. IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, 2021, 36(9): 10461-10469. [27] Li Zi, Liu Haotian, Jiang Song, et al.A new driving circuit with delay trigger for the solid-state Marx modulators[J]. IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, 2021, 49(6): 1906-1914. [28] 殷亚昆, 段章超, 王永刚, 等. 具有负压关断的MOSFET栅极快速驱动电路设计[J]. 强激光与粒子束, 2024, 36(8): 085002. Yin Yakun, Duan Zhangchao, Wang Yonggang, et al.Design of MOSFET gate driver circuit with negative voltage stability[J]. High Power Laser and Particle Beams, 2024, 36(8): 085002. [29] 姚常智, 张昊东, 申宏伟, 等. SiC MOSFET驱动特性及器件国产化后的影响分析[J]. 电源学报, 2024, 22(3): 138-145, 164. Yao Changzhi, Zhang Haodong, Shen Hongwei, et al.Driving characteristics of SiC MOSFET and influence analysis after device localization[J]. Journal of Power Supply, 2024, 22(3): 138-145, 164. [30] Zeng Zheng, Li Xiaoling.Comparative study on multiple degrees of freedom of gate drivers for transient behavior regulation of SiC MOSFET[J]. IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, 2017, 33(10): 8754-8763. [31] 项鹏飞, 郝瑞祥, 王德顺, 等. 电压源驱动下SiC MOSFET开关性能与栅极可靠性协同优化[J]. 电机与控制学报, 2025, 29(5): 144-156. Xiang Pengfei, Hao Ruixiang, Wang Deshun, et al.Collaborative optimization of switching performance and gate reliability for SiC MOSFET under voltage- source gate driver[J]. Electric Machines and Control, 2025, 29(5): 144-156. [32] 李庆辉, 潘三博. 一种改进型抑制SiC MOSFET桥臂串扰的门极驱动设计[J]. 电源学报, 2024, 22(5): 300-308. Li Qinghui, Pan Sanbo.Improved gate drive design to suppress crosstalk of SiC MOSFET bridge arm[J]. Journal of Power Supply, 2024, 22(5): 300-308. [33] Ma Zaojun, Pei Yunqing, Wang Laili, et al.An accurate analytical model of SiC MOSFETs for switching speed and switching loss calculation in high-voltage pulsed power supplies[J]. IEEE Transa- ctions on Power Electronics, 2023, 38(3): 3281-3297. [34] 韩毅博, 刘毅, 刘思维, 等. 环形磁芯脉冲磁化特性测量分析[J]. 中国电机工程学报, 2015, 35(16): 4239-4246. Han Yibo, Liu Yi, Liu Siwei, et al.Study on the measurement of pulse magnetization characteristics of toroidal magnetic cores[J]. Proceedings of the CSEE, 2015, 35(16): 4239-4246. [35] Kiran M R, Farrok O, Islam M R, et al.Characterization of the optimized high frequency transformer using nanocrystalline and amorphous magnetic materials[C]//2019 22nd International Conference on Electrical Machines and Systems (ICEMS), Harbin, China, 2019: 1-4. [36] King Magnetics High Performance Amorphous and Nanocrystalline Cores and Components[Z]. Zhuhai King Magnetics Technology Co.King Magnetics High Performance Amorphous and Nanocrystalline Cores and Components[Z]. Zhuhai King Magnetics Technology Co. Ltd, 2022. [37] Anurag A, Acharya S, Prabowo Y, et al.Design considerations and development of an innovative gate driver for medium-voltage power devices with high dv/dt[J]. IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, 2019, 34(6): 5256-5267. [38] Yan Ning, Dong Dong, Burgos R.A multichannel high-frequency current link based isolated auxiliary power supply for medium-voltage applications[J]. IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, 2022, 37(1): 674-686. [39] 潘建宇, 唐海博, 姜怡, 等. 高压SiC器件电流互感器型取能装置耦合电容特性和抑制研究[J]. 电工技术学报, 2025, 40(3): 800-811. Pan Jianyu, Tang Haibo, Jiang Yi, et al.Study of coupling capacitance characteristics and its suppression method of HCT-based isolated power transfer device for high-voltage SiC switches[J]. Transactions of China Electrotechnical Society, 2025, 40(3): 800-811. [40] Gottschlich J, Schäfer M, Neubert M, et al.A galvanically isolated gate driver with low coupling capacitance for medium voltage SiC MOSFETs[C]// 2016 18th European Conference on Power Electronics and Applications (EPE'16 ECCE Europe), Karlsruhe, Germany, 2016: 1-8. [41] Mainali K, Madhusoodhanan S, Tripathi A, et al.Design and evaluation of isolated gate driver power supply for medium voltage converter applications[C]// 2016 IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition (APEC), Long Beach, CA, USA, 2016: 1632-1639. [42] 吴晓, 米彦, 郑伟, 等. 脉冲电场对细胞膜电穿孔面积的影响研究[J]. 电工技术学报, 2023, 38(14): 3779-3788. Wu Xiao, Mi Yan, Zheng Wei, et al.Effect of pulsed electric field on electroporation area of cell membrane[J]. Transactions of China Electrotechnical Society, 2023, 38(14): 3779-3788. [43] Sugai Taichi, Tokuchi A, Jiang Weihua.Effects of pulsed power control on plasma water treatment using LTD[J]. IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, 2018, 46(10): 3566-3573.
2026, Vol. 41 
