A Microcontroller-Based Modular Pulsed H.V. Power Supply: Design, Implementation, and Tests on DBD-Based Plasmas

This paper is devoted to the design, implementation, and test of a low cost, modular, and reliable pulsed high-voltage (HV) converter (dc chopper). The distinct characteristics of the present prototype refer to: adjustable voltage amplitude up to 7 kV, amplitude drop less than 4‰ for $2 \times 10$ A output peak current at 5 kHz, adjustable pulse frequency up to 5 kHz, adjustable duty cycle between 1% and 10%, rising/falling time around 100 ns, and jitter about 10 ns. In principle, 1-kV modules based on a fast MOSFET each are combined in series to form a completely modular push–pull switch configuration. Contrary to sophisticated optical fiber-based insulation techniques, the driving low-voltage stage of the power supply is magnetically coupled to the HV stage. The low-voltage stage defines and schedules the HV pulses by means of a microcontroller. The 7 kV is equally distributed along MOSFETs due to balancing networks of passive components. Zener diodes in parallel with MOSFETs provide sufficient protection against overvoltages. The power supply has been successfully tested on dielectric-barrier discharge-based plasmas which have nowadays continuous technological interest.