Practical Design of a High-Voltage Pulsed Power Supply Implementing Sic Technology for Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Reactors
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applied sciences Article Practical Design of a High-Voltage Pulsed Power Supply Implementing SiC Technology for Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Reactors Jacek Kołek and Marcin Hołub * Faculty of Electrical Engineering, West Pomeranian University of Technology, 70-313 Szczecin, Poland; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 18 March 2019; Accepted: 2 April 2019; Published: 6 April 2019 Featured Application: Power supply construction for dielectric barrier or corona discharge, atmospheric pressure plasma reactors. Abstract: Non-thermal plasma reactors offer numerous advantages and are used in a wide variety of applications. Exemplary fields of use include exhaust gas or water quality improvement, surface processing, agriculture, or medical processes. Two of the most popular discharge chamber constructions are dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) and pulsed corona discharge (PCD, barrierless) plasma reactors. Various power supply constructions are presented in the literature with varying complexity and operating principles. A simple, power electronic, pulsed power supply construction is presented in this work, implementing resonant power switch operation, modern silicon carbide (SiC) power semiconductors and a Tesla coil-like transformer design. The power supply construction is immune to short circuits in the reactor and can be used for both types of reactor constructions. The principles of operation, simulation results, and prototype test verifications are presented with main power supply characteristics. Keywords: cold plasma power supply; high-voltage power supply; pulsed power supply; cold plasma sources 1. Introduction Non-thermal plasma discharge properties are used in a wide variety of processes. The main applications include agricultural use [1], medical processing [2], water and exhaust treatment [3,4], waste air quality improvement, and deodorization [5–7]. Further research is needed to provide application possibilities in different fields [4]. Regarding the plasma reactor constructions, dielectric barrier discharge (DBD, electrodes separated by a dielectric barrier) and corona discharge (CD, separated electrodes with no dielectric barrier) reactors are most widely used for cold plasma discharge generation under atmospheric pressure. The different properties of both constructions are an important factor in choosing a certain one for industrial applications and have a strong influence on power supply system designs. In order to efficiently supply a plasma module, many different power supply topologies and electrical waveforms exist. It is possible to use a simple, high-voltage sine wave source (from several to several tens of kV) with a frequency of 50 Hz to 50 kHz to generate the plasma in a DBD reactor. To generate plasma in CD reactors, it is necessary to have a high-voltage pulsed source (from several to several tens of kV), with a high-voltage steepness (typically in the range from several hundred to several thousand volts/ns [8]. Since the construction of CD reactors is much simpler and they have Appl. Sci. 2019, 9, 1451; doi:10.3390/app9071451 www.mdpi.com/journal/applsci Appl.Appl. Sci. Sci.2019 2019,,9 9, 1451FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of2 12 smaller flow resistance than a typical DBD reactor, a highly efficient topology is required for a High a smaller flow resistance than a typical DBD reactor, a highly efficient topology is required for a High Voltage (HV) generator. Additionally, when using a HV pulse generator for DBD reactors, it is also Voltage (HV) generator. Additionally, when using a HV pulse generator for DBD reactors, it is also possible to significantly improve the energy efficiency of plasma generation [9]. Currently, in the possiblegeneration to significantlyof high-voltage improve pulse systems the energy of rotating efficiency gas of gaps, plasma gas generationgaps with trigger [9]. Currently, electrodes in or the generationthyratrons ofas well high-voltage as fast ionizing pulse dynistors systems of(FIDs) rotating are often gas gaps,used. gasFrom gaps the view withpoint trigger of the electrodes dynamic or thyratronsparameters as of well modern as fast power ionizing transistors dynistors (such (FIDs) as Si areC or often GaN used. MOSFETs) From the, the viewpoint implementation of the dynamic of HV parameterspulse gener ofators modern is possible. power transistors (such as SiC or GaN MOSFETs), the implementation of HV pulseTh generatorsis paper is is organized possible. as follows: In the first section, the description of proposed high-voltage resonantThis paperconverter is organized with simul asation follows: results In the is firstprovided, section, followed the description by the design of proposed and construction high-voltage resonantdetails, a converternd suggestions with simulation are discussed results for isa prototype provided, power followed supply. by the Finally design, measurement and construction results details, of andthe suggestionsexperimental are setup discussed and practical for a prototype verification power of properties supply. Finally, with different measurement types resultsof loads of are the experimentalpresented. setup and practical verification of properties with different types of loads are presented. 2.2. MaterialsMaterials andand MethodsMethods AA new,new, simple simple topologytopology ofof thethe pulsedpulsed power supply is depicted in in Figure Figure 1.1. It consists of of three three mainmain conversion conversion stages:stages: (a)a) a DC voltage source source;; b) (b) a a resonant resonant charger charger circuit circuit constituting constituting the the initial initial pulsepulse energyenergy by the voltage voltage control control of of the the capacitor capacitor C2 C; and2; and c) an (c) out anput output pulse pulse shaper shaper with Tesla with coil Tesla- coil-likelike transformer. transformer. In order In order to investigate to investigate the basic the basicoperation operation,, role, and role, properties and properties of each of stage each, stage,they theywill willbe discussed be discussed separately separately,, in detail in detail,, in the in following the following subsections. subsections. FigureFigure 1.1. ProposedProposed pulsedpulsed powerpower supply for non-thermalnon-thermal plasma reactors. reactors. Three Three main main stages stages are are marked:marked: DC voltage voltage source source (blue (blue); );resonant resonant capacitor capacitor charger charger (red ();red and); andoutput output pulse pulseshaping shaping unit unit(green (green). ). 2.1.2.1. TheThe DCDC VoltageVoltage SourceSource TheThe firstfirst partpart ofof thethe proposedproposed high-voltagehigh-voltage power supply is is a a DC DC voltage voltage source source whose whose output output voltagevoltage value value may may be be fixed fixed at at several several hundreds hundred ofs of volts volts (using (using a passive a passive rectifier rectifier circuit circuit or anor activean active PFC stage),PFC stage) or variable, or variable up to up similar to similar values values (300–650 (300‒ V650 is theV is most the most useful useful and commonlyand commonly used used range range [10]). In[10 a]) specific. In a specific application, application this, this topology topology can can be be fed fed directly directly from from the the mains mains withwith a simple simple rectifier rectifier circuitcircuit with with capacitor capacitor bank. bank. In In other other cases—especially cases—especially when when galvanic galvanic isolation isolation from from the the power power grid grid is required—anis required—an isolated isolated AC/DC AC/DC power power supply supply should should be be used. used. InIn orderorder to verify verify the the laboratory laboratory prototype prototype properties properties for fordifferent different input input voltage voltage values values,, the thelaboratory laboratory TDK TDK Lambda Lambda GEN600 GEN600-2.6-2.6 SMPS SMPS (switching (switching mode mode power power supply) supply) voltage voltage source source was was used.used. ThisThis providedprovided stable voltage with a a control control range range from from 0 0 to to 650 650 V V DC DC,, and and 2.6 2.6 A A of of average average outputoutput current.current. TheThe highhigh efficiencyefficiency and galvanic isolation o off the the used used power power supply supply were were additional additional advantageousadvantageous features.features. 2.2.2.2. TheThe ResonantResonant CapacitorCapacitor ChargerCharger TheThe presentedpresented powerpower supplysupply shouldshould generate high-voltagehigh-voltage pulses pulses with with adjustable adjustable ampli amplitudetude andand repetitionrepetition ratio. ratio. The The repetition repetition frequency frequency of the of output the output voltage voltage pulses pulses was set was in the set range in the of range250‒ of2000 250–2000 Hz. The Hz. role The of the role resonant of the resonantcapacitor capacitorcharger is charger to accumulate is to accumulate the energy theneeded energy to generate needed a to generatesingle voltage a single pulse voltage in pulsethe electric in the electricfield of field a capacitor of a capacitor bank bank.. The Thecharging charging process process must must have have acceptableacceptable accuracyaccuracy andand hashas toto bebe fast enough to finish finish in the the available available time time (pause) (pause) between between output output pulses.pulses.A A simple,simple, resonantresonant constructionconstruction with two power switch switcheses w wasas chosen chosen to to reduce reduce