Simulation and design of a 600 KV tesla transformer

Electronic vulnerability testing recently is drawing attention of Pulsed Power Engineers in designing compact high repetition Pulsed Power Systems. Conventional MARX generators are bulky and incapable of operating in high repetition rates. To circumvent this, shift of attention towards Tesla transformers is inevitable. Tesla transformer based pulsed power systems are much more robust, compact and capable of operating in high repetition rates. A compact Tesla transformer has been designed using analytical calculations and simulations. Unlike conventional Tesla transformers, this transformer employs a high-permeability core to enhance the coupling and facilitate the use of semiconductor switches to increase the pulse repetition rate. In order to achieve compactness, the core of the transformer has been designed in such a way to work as a pulse-forming line (PFL) also. A comprehensive study based on simulation is also presented to visualize the non-uniform current density of the primary coil. The designed transformer can deliver a 600-kV voltage pulse of duration (FWHM) 80 ns on a 40-Ω load for an input voltage of around 1 kV. (author)