30 kV/10 mA solid state anode modulator for gyrotron plasma heating: design issues and results

Three 30 kV/10 mA solid state pulsed modulators have been delivered to the CRPP in Lausanne, by the company JEMA. Each modulator supplies the anode grid of a triode type gyrotron, used for heating purpose at the third harmonic in the TCV Tokamak. The main parameters of the final design are: the use of solid state technology, a floating output referred to the −80 kV of the gyrotron cathode potential, an output voltage range of −5 to 30 kV, 1 kHz square and sinusoidal modulation, fast switching off to −5 kV (10 μs) and pulsed operation (duty cycle of 1%). After studying and testing a solution based on regulated Mosfet transistors in series, a more stable alternative has been adopted. The final topology consists of a rectifier fed from an insulated 230 V input, a chopper, two inverter steps (for +30 and −5 kV) supplying two diode rectifiers bridges through HV transformers with two switches which commute the load to the positive or negative voltage, connected in series. This article presents the most significant aspects of the design, with special emphasis on the control principle. The final results will be presented in the context of normal operation, supplying a triode gyrotron.