Modulators for magnetrons

Mark Iskander - PAEN 2014

Page 1

Modulators for magnetrons

Introduction
Modulator types
Switch
The thyratron
Features and advantages
e2v solid state modulator

Page 2

Modulators types
Types of pulse modulator commonly used to drive
magnetrons
Basic Modulator circuits
Hard Switch modulators
Line type modulators
Marx modulators

Page 3

Modulators types
Types of Switch used in magnetrons modulators
Hard Switch modulators
Closing
Spark gaps
Thyratron
Semiconductor etc. Thyristor
Closing and Opening
Tubes
Triode
Tetrode
Semiconductor
Field Effect Transistors (FET)
Insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT)
Integrated Gate-Commutated Thyristor (IGCT)

Page 4

Basic circuit for discharging pulser

Load
Directly driven magnetron
Pulse transformer driven magnetron
Page 5

Basic hard-tube pulser

Load
Directly driven magnetron
Pulse transformer driven magnetron
Page 6

Basic line-type pulser

Load
Directly driven magnetron
Pulse transformer driven magnetron
Page 7

Basic marx pulser

Load
Directly driven magnetron
Page 8

Thyratrons
> What is a Thyratron?
High peak power electrical discharge switch that now uses ionised hydrogen gas as the switching medium
Thyratron initially developed in US 1941 , as a method to drive magnetron based radar systems.
Development of the thyratron at the then English Electric Valve Company (e2v Ltd.) commenced in 1948 under the
sponsorship of the Marconi Wireless Telegraph (MWT) Company, first produced by e2v in the early 1950s.

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Thyratrons
> Used worldwide in various applications such as: Kicker magnet switching, Over-voltage damage prevention via Crowbar
mechanism, Radar, Lithotripsy shock wave generation, high energy Gas Laser switching and Medical, Scientific and
Industrial Linac operation

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Thyratron
> What is a Thyratron?
High peak power electrical discharge switch that uses ionised hydrogen gas as the switching medium

Page 11

Thyratrons
> e2v product lines :

Glass Envelope

Ceramic Envelope

Ceramic/ metal Envelope

> Up to 35kV Voltage hold-off capacity

> Up to 100kV Voltage hold-off capacity

> High peak and average powers

> Oxide Cathode

> Low average Current capability up
to 1.5A

> Oxide Cathode

> Medium average Current capability
up to 6A

achievable simultaneously 10kA

and 50kV
> Barium Aluminate Cathode
Page 12

Peak Voltage KV

Traditional PFN Line Type Operation

Load line 410 Ohms
Operating point
Dynamic impedance = a/b, moves
away from a given point on the load
a line, along a given voltage line as
set by the electro magnet.
b
Static impedance, is at a given
operating point and moves along the
load line
= Peak Voltage / Peak Current.

Peak Current

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AMM
> Key modulator type differentiators

Advantages

Line type

Solid State Pulse Transformer type

Hard Switch type

Simple

Solid State switch is at lower voltage

Pulse shape is maintained across full

operating magnetron current range

Cheap

Solid state switch is not required to be in

insulating medium

Pulse width can be easily altered

Change of pulse duration like hard tube,

switching at low voltage

Wide range of mismatch permissible

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AMM
> Key modulator type differentiators
Line type

Solid State Pulse Transformer type

Hard Switch type

Good operation at a single

operating point

Higher current rating of switch

components

Higher voltage rating of switch

components

Voltage can overshoot

External network required to shape

pulse

Higher stored energy

Limits pulse width operation

Pulse shape not maintainable across

full operating magnetron current range

Pulse shape

Complex pulse transformer required

Disadvantages

Size. (PFN & Pulse Transformer)

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How AMM works

> The Solid State Modulator
Although there are a number of modulator types, e2vs modulator is a hard switch type.

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How AMM works

> The Solid State Modulator
Although there are a number of modulator types, e2vs modulator is a hard switch type.

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How AMM works

> The Solid State Modulator
Although there are a number of modulator types, e2vs modulator is a hard switch type.

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How AMM works

> The Solid State Modulator
Although there are a number of modulator types, e2vs modulator is a hard switch type.

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How AMM works

> The Solid State Modulator
Although there are a number of modulator types, e2vs modulator is a hard switch type.

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AMM System Features

> Key operating parameters
> Pulse rise time and flatness is tailored for
optimal magnetron switching characteristics.

> Magnetron current pulse flatness

maintained across all operating levels.

AMM1

> No external network required.

V

AMM2

I
V

Line Type

I
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AMM2 Functionality
> Magnetron Heater Management:
> Two key functions:
> Initial warm up.
> Cutback during pulsing.

> Magnetron Arc Management :

> Arc conditions detected and pulse truncated.
> System managed based on arc count.

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AMM
> What is AMM? (Active Magnetron Modulator)
> Compact range of solid state modulator systems to drive the e2v range of linac magnetrons.

> Medium Power System - 130A Pulse Current, 54kV

> High Power System 260A Pulse Current, 60kV

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How AMM works

> Modulator switch stacks
> AMM1 MOSFET Stack
> 75 series stage boards

> AMM2 IGBT Stack

> 22 series stage boards

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AMM2 Functionality
> Key System Features
> Diagnostic Data
> Available on a pulse by pulse basis.
> Data can be monitored real time or stored for later analysis.

> Pulse amplitude

> Regulated on magnetron current.
> Digital Magnetron Current control loop.

> System configuration

> System is configurable through parameter tables.
> Determines magnetron operating conditions.
Page 25

Testing an AMM1 into a short circuit

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> End Of Presentation.

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