A compact 5kV battery-capacitor seed source with rapid capacitor charger

Many pulsed power applications have demanding system requirements. Power systems for these applications are expected to provide high energy, high pulsed power and long standby times without recharge, all in a very compact package. The different properties of batteries and capacitors make them most suitable for different uses. When selecting a prime power source for compact pulsed power systems a hybrid system often provides the optimal solution, utilizing a battery for prime energy storage during standby and a capacitor for intermediate energy storage before and between operations. This system takes advantage of the best characteristics of both sources to fulfill the system requirements. The design and testing of such a compact system is discussed. The system utilizes a solid-state converter to charge a 50 ¿F polypropylene capacitor to 5 kV in under 500 ms from lithium-ion polymer (LiPo) batteries. Battery selection and testing is also covered. The battery and charger assembly occupies 1.25 L while the capacitor occupies an additional 1.4 L.