Marx generator with pulsating power buffer

A pulse power generator comprising:

• an input power source;
• a plurality of power stages, each comprising:
• a half bridge based Marx generator power cell comprising:
• a main capacitor connected between a positive input terminal and a negative input terminal;
• and
• a main half bridge switch circuit connected in parallel with the main capacitor and configured to alternately set the power cell in a discharging phase or a charging phase;
• a pulsating power buffer connected in a boost mode or a buck mode configuration and in parallel with the main capacitor, the pulsating power buffer comprising:
• an auxiliary capacitor;
• an inductor;
• and
• an auxiliary half bridge switch circuit including first and second switches;
• a voltage detector configured to detect a main voltage across the main capacitors;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• set each power stage in a discharging phase including:
• setting the main capacitor in a discharging phase including controlling the main half bridge switch to connect the main capacitor in series with the main capacitor of an adjoining power stage;
• and
• setting the pulsating power buffer in a discharging phase including switching the first and second switches in a complementary manner when the main voltage is less than a threshold voltage to deliver a discharge current from the auxiliary capacitor through the inductor that supplements the main voltage;
• and
• set each power stage in a charging phase including:
• setting the main capacitor in a charging phase including controlling the main half bridge switch to connect the main capacitor in parallel with the input power source;
• and
• setting the pulsating power buffer in a charging phase including switching the first and second switches in a complementary manner when the main voltage is greater than a threshold voltage to deliver a charge current to the auxiliary capacitor through the inductor that increases a voltage across the auxiliary capacitor.

A method of controlling a power stage of a pulsed power generator, which includes:

• an input power source;
• a plurality of power stages, each comprising:
• a half bridge based Marx generator power cell comprising:
• a main capacitor connected between a positive input terminal and a negative input terminal;
• and
• a main half bridge switch circuit connected in parallel with the main capacitor and configured to alternately set the power cell in a discharging phase or a charging phase;
• a pulsating power buffer connected in a boost mode or a buck mode configuration and in parallel with the main capacitor, the pulsating power buffer comprising:
• an auxiliary capacitor;
• an inductor;
• and
• an auxiliary half bridge switch circuit including first and second switches;
• a voltage detector configured to detect a main voltage across the main capacitors;
• and
• a controller,
• the method comprising:
• setting each power stage in a discharging phase using the controller including:
• setting the main capacitor in a discharging phase including controlling the main half bridge switch to connect the main capacitor in series with the main capacitor of an adjoining power stage;
• and
• setting the pulsating power buffer in a discharging phase including switching the first and second switches in a complementary manner when the main voltage is less than a threshold voltage to deliver a discharge current from the auxiliary capacitor through the inductor that supplements the main voltage;
• and
• setting each power stage in a charging phase using the controller including:
• setting the main capacitor in a charging phase including controlling the main half bridge switch to connect the main capacitor in parallel with the input power source;
• and
• setting the pulsating power buffer in a charging phase including switching the first and second switches in a complementary manner when the main voltage is greater than a threshold voltage to deliver a charge current to the auxiliary capacitor through the inductor that increases a voltage across the auxiliary capacitor.