A power-electronics-based modular nanosecond pulse generation system for plasma-assisted ignition

Plasma-assisted ignition technology has been proposed to boost the combustion efficiency of scramjets during highspeed flight. One technique utilizes high-voltage nanosecond-duration pulses, which can generate free radicals, thereby initiating ignition earlier in the combustion chamber and improving fuel efficiency. A high-voltage nanosecond pulse generator is an integral part of the system. In this study, a modular nanosecond pulse generation system, utilizing multiple high-speed high-voltage MOSFETs, is developed and tested. The modular system can generate width-adjustable pulses (from 20 ns to 50 ns) with a fast rise time (< 6 ns), fast fall time (< 6 ns), and variable amplitude using multiple switch cells. The system is also scalable in voltage and current. By employing the inductive voltage adder, the system is configured in two different ways: two switch cells coupled in parallel and two switch cells coupled in series. These configurations demonstrate scalability and the fundamental sizing constraints.