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Modeling and simulation of a low power magnetron as an element of electrical

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Conference Paper · April 2018

DOI: 10.1109/RADIOELEK.2018.8376358

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Modeling and Simulation of a Low Power Magnetron
as an Element of Electrical System
Artem I. Zemtsov
Ivan I. Artyukhov, Sergei F. Stepanov,
Department of Power Supply for Industrial Enterprises,
Ekaterina E. Mirgorodskaya, Nikita P. Mityashin,
Samara State Technical University Branch at Syzran,
Department of Power Supply and Electrical Technology,
Syzran, Russia
Department of System Engineering
artex283@mail.ru
Yuri Gagarin State Technical University of Saratov
Saratov, Russia
ivart54@mail.ru

Nikolai A. Kalistratov
Department of Radio Engineering Instrumentation,
Research and Production Enterprise «Almaz»
Saratov, Russia
kalistratov08@rambler.ru

Abstract— Low power magnetrons (up to 1000 W) are widely
used in microwave ovens and in industrial electrotechnical
installations with distributed supply of microwave energy. To
calculate and optimize the parameters of magnetron supply
sources, a model that allows presenting magnetron as an element
of electrical system is needed. At present, simple magnetron
models are known. They are designed to calculate power supply
systems solely in steady state.
The anode power source ensures the supply of high DC
voltage of at least 4.0 kV. The average anode current equals of
approximately of 0.35 A.
Various schemes can be applied to power supply systems of
magnetrons. Most often for low-power magnetrons, a circuit
with a single transformer is used to supply the anode circuit
and the cathode filament of the magnetron (Fig. 1).

The article proposes the model of a magnetron in the form of

a four-terminal network with variable parameters. Such model
facilitates investigation of static and dynamic characteristics in
various power supply circuits.

Keywords—magnetron, power supplies, simulation, electrical

system

I. INTRODUCTION
Low-power magnetrons generate microwave oscillations at
the frequency of 2,450 MHz. They are widely used in
microwave ovens and in industrial electro technical Fig. 1. Commonly used low-power magnetron generator structure.
installations with distributed supply of microwave energy.
Two power sources are necessary, one of which serves to
The primary winding is connected to the mains through an
heat the cathode, while the other supplies energy to the anode
EMC filter and a switching device with a controller. The high
circuit, in order to operate magnetron [1].
voltage secondary winding with a Villard circuit voltage
The reliable emissivity of the cathode is achieved in a doubler (a capacitor, C, and a diode, VD) form an anode circuit
limited temperature range. Below the minimum permissible power supply.
temperature, the emission of electrons is insufficient for
During the generation interval, the values of anode voltage
obtaining the required level of output power. Above the upper
and current are defined by the magnetron dynamic resistance
temperature limit, we observe rapid depletion of cathode active
and transformer parameters. Generation power is regulated by
component which leads to emission loss. The supply voltage of
the controller via adjusting times of the switching device in
the filament is usually 3.15 V for low-power magnetrons, while
open and closed positions.
filament current is consumed at the level of 10 – 20 A.

978-1-5386-2485-2/18/$31.00 ©2018 IEEE RADIOELEKTRONIKA 2018

 Our experimental research of such power supply system
demonstrated its sufficiently complex dynamics. The inertia of
the cathode thermal emission process results in anode current
of the magnetron reaching its operating value a certain time
after the mains voltage is applied. Simultaneously, we observe
mutual influence of electromagnetic processes in cathode and
anode circuits of the power supply system [2].
For the analysis and optimization of existing circuits, as
well as for the synthesis of new power schemes, the magnetron
model as an element of electrical system is necessary.
II. EXPERIMENTAL DATA
The experimental data of the transient phenomena of a LG
magnetron 2M214 power supply (Fig. 2) were obtained on the
test bench with a transformer for microwave ovens and a
capacitor of 1 µF.
Fig 2. Magnetron transient phenomena diagram after turning on the power
supply.
The diagram shows that the anode circuit voltage comes up
to the value of the high voltage secondary coil doubled peak
(about 6.7 kV with the mains voltage of 220 V) during the
short period of time after turning on the power supply.
Therefore, it reveals virtually open circuit operation of the
power supply until thermionic emission reaches its normal
intensity. When the cathode temperature grows up to its
operation value and hence increases thermionic emission
intensity, the anode current is initiated and the anode voltage
accordingly drops to 3.8 kV.
III. MODEL CONSTRUCTION
A set of approximate magnetron current-voltage
characteristics or I-V curves as shown in Fig. 3 is used for
analysis of the steady-state mode for a magnetron generator.
I-V curve of a magnetron starts with the abrupt region
shown by the dotted line in Fig. 3. The region with a small
inclination from the I-axis representing the radiation mode of a
magnetron follows after the bend point. In the area of anode
voltages lesser than threshold voltage (Ua<U0) synchronism
conditions between the charge carriers and the high-frequency
field are not met, therefore oscillations and anode current are
not being induced. Self-excitation of a magnetron and sudden
increase in anode current happen as soon as anode voltage
reaches the threshold. Afterwards a small change of the anode
voltage Ua leads to drastic changes in the anode current Ia
amount of which is defined by the cathode emission capacity.
In theory, I-V curves of a magnetron could be represented
by a set of voltage saturation curves [3]. In practice, the higher
value of anode current Ia corresponds with the higher value of
anode voltage Ua. Experimental value of the threshold voltage
U0 seats on the intersection of the U-axis and the extended I-V
curve of a magnetron.
Fig. 3. I-V curves of a magnetron considering different levels of the magnetic
field density (provided that B1<B2<B3).
Since I-V curves of a magnetron are nonlinear, it is possible
to introduce two types of a magnetron inner resistance: static
resistance Rs and differential resistance Rd. Static resistance of
a magnetron characterizes its total inner resistance regarding a
concrete value of the anode voltage Ua. Static resistance Rs is a
crucial factor for a power supply valuation. This resistance
defines the anode current amount during the working cycle and
could be expressed in:
Rs = U a / I a = tgα . (1)
Dynamic resistance of a magnetron characterizes the
excursion of the static resistance and therefore the anode
current in accordance with the slight anode voltage
deviation ΔU a :
Rd = ΔU a / ΔI a = tgβ . (2)
Dynamic resistance is a valuable characteristic for a power
supply stability valuation.
It should be noted that the commonly used model of a
magnetron as a load of a power supply does not take into
account the dependence of the model parameters from the
cathode temperature. However, sustainable emission capacity
is only possible within the certain range of the temperature.
Below the lower limit the emission is not intense enough to
reach required power output. Above the upper limit the
emission active component exhausts faster what leads to
emission loss. Thereby, the filament circuit power should be
maintained within the certain range during a magnetron
operation activity.
 In the study of power supplies for microwave installations,
the magnetron is represented as a simple model that consists of
a series-connected ideal diode with a threshold voltage and a
resistor whose value corresponds to the dynamic resistance of
the magnetron [4] – [8]. Such a model makes it possible to
obtain data on electromagnetic processes solely for steady-state
or quasi-steady-state operating modes.
It is suggested to use the following model (Fig. 4) for a
low-power magnetron generator steady-state and dynamic
mode analysis. This simulation model is represented by the
quadripole: the cathode-anode circuit and the filament circuit
respectively.
Fig. 4. Structure of the low power magnetron simulation model.
Simulation model of a magnetron as a load of a power
supply could be represented by a reverse polarity voltage
source with the set value equal to its threshold voltage U0, an
ideal diode VD characterizing unipolar conductivity of a
magnetron and a nonlinear resistor Ra imitating the differential
resistance. In addition, an assumption is made that the value of
the nonlinear resistor Ra is a function of the cathode
temperature T. Therefore, value of the resistance Ra decreases
during a magnetron starting process from its maximum while
the cathode is cold to its minimum while the cathode is
operational. Decrease of the resistance Ra during the cathode
heating is shown in Fig. 5 by further I-V curve declination
towards the I-axis.
Fig. 5. I-V curve of a magnetron considering different cathode
temperature (provided that T1<T2<Tnom).
The cathode-anode circuit voltage can be expressed as
follows:
F ⋅ ia ⋅ Rа ( T ) + U 0 = u a ,
where F is logic function, F=1 if the radiation requirements
have been met and F=0 if not.
The filament is represented by the nonlinear resistor Rf in
the Fig. 4 model structure. The value of the resistor is a
function of the cathode temperature T:
R f = R0 ⋅ [1 + α (T − T0 )] , (4)
where R0 and T0 are initial values of filament resistance and
cathode temperature respectively, α is the specific temperature
resistance coefficient.
The filament circuit voltage can be expressed as follows:
u f = Rf ⋅if . (5)
After the cathode temperature reaches its operation value,
the anode current, as shown in Fig. 2, increases intensively in
accordance with the equation which can be derived from (3)
with the mean values of the anode voltage Ua and current Ia:
I a = U a − U 0 / Rа ( T ) . (6)
When the cathode temperature reaches its operation value
the mean value of the anode current reaches its nominal value
Ia.nom. Nominal value of the anode current corresponds with
the certain Ra.nom value of the Ra resistance in the presented in
Fig. 4 model structure.
An expression of the Ra(T) function can be derived from
the Richardson–Dushman equation for the emission current
density [9]:
j = A ⋅ T 2 exp(− ϕ / kT ) , (7)
where A is the constant multiplier, φ is the electronic work
function, k is the Boltzmann constant.
Therefore, the anode current nominal value Ia.nom derived
out of (6) can be equated with the same value derived out of
(7) and rearranged into an equation:
2
U a − U 0 = Rа .nom ⋅ S ⋅ A ⋅ Tnom exp(− ϕ / kTnom ) , (8)
where S is the cathode effective area.
Left-hand side of (8) can be accepted as a constant due to
the virtually voltage saturation characteristic of a magnetron
since entering the radiation mode. Hence, an approximation
can be derived out of (8):
U a − U 0 ≈ Rа ( T ) ⋅ S ⋅ A ⋅ T 2 exp (− ϕ / kT ) . (9)
In these terms the Ra(T) function can be expressed as
follows:
2
T 
Rа ( T ) = Rа .nom ⋅  nom  ⋅ exp(− ϕ ⋅ (Tnom − T ) / kTTnom ) . (10)
 T 
The cathode temperature can be evaluated by solving the
following heat-balance equation:
(3) c ⋅ m ⋅ dT + (α c + α i ) ⋅ S ⋅ T ⋅ dt = I f 2 ⋅ R f ⋅ dt , (11)
where c is the specific thermal capacity, m is mass of the
cathode, α c and α i are the heat loss factors of the cathode
and the insulation respectively, If is the effective value of the
filament circuit current, Rf is the filament circuit resistance
evaluated by (4).
The filament circuit current effective value was derived in
terms that the filament circuit power supply has impedance of
ZC = RC + jXC and sine-wave voltage effective value of Uf :
(
I f = U f / R f + RС + j X С . ) (12)
The Anode subsystem consists of the Resistor_Ra(T)
subsystem and the ideal diode model (Fig. 7). The
Resistor_Ra(T) subsystem in Fig. 8 represents nonlinear
resistance of the cathode-anode circuit (Fig. 4). The reverse
polarity voltage source U_contr is driven in such manner as to
suppress the specified part of the input voltage. Due to that the
overall voltage would initiate current of the value
corresponding with the certain overall resistance.

The filament current (12) with effective values of the

parameters can be rearranged as follows:

If =U f (R C + Rf )
2
+ X C2 . (13)

Equations (3) - (5), (10), (11) and (13) form a system

describing the magnetron as the load of the power source.
Such equations can be solved more evident and convenient
with the help of the modern computer simulation programs.
SPICE simulator can be used to modeling a magnetron.
The application of such a program is shown, e.g. in [9] to
research on magnetron generator energy efficiency in
microwave heating devices. Fig. 7. The anode circuit model structure.

The magnetron model proposed by us is intended for the Therefore, the Resistor_Ra(T) block behaves as if the total
investigation of electromagnetic processes in electrical resistance value in accordance with (10) was numerically equal
complexes. As a part of these complexes there are frequency to the input signal In1, which instantly transmits the results of
converters, electric motors, various energy sources, including the Anode subsystem.
electromechanical generators. Simulation of such electrical
complexes is conveniently carried out in the program
MATLAB + Simulink [10], [11].
A simulation model in accordance with the formed system
of equations was constructed environment. The magnetron
model was tested with high-voltage sources such as the Villard
circuit voltage doubler, the Delon bridge circuit voltage
doubler, single-phase full-wave rectifier without filter. Mains
frequency was 50 Hz. The proposed magnetron model can
also be used with an inverter at a frequency of up to 50 kHz.
Fig. 8. The nonlinear resistance model structure.
In Fig. 6 shows the application of this model when
examining a power source with the Villard voltage doubler
(Fig. 1). The magnetron is represented by the Anode and Fig. 9 shows the Cathode subsystem structure. The voltage
Cathode subsystems. and current measurement units transmit their signals to the
block Active & Reactive Power for powers calculate. The
active power value is then used to calculate the cathode
temperature in the Transfer Fcn block and generate a control
signal for the Resistor_Ra (T) block.

Fig. 6. The Simulation model of the power supply for low-power magnetron. Fig. 9. The cathode circuit model structure.
 The instantaneous temperature is also used to generate the CONCLUSION
control signal for the Resistor_Rf(T) block. This block within Considering the tendencies of changeover towards
the Cathode subsystem is absolutely identical in structure to the switched-mode power supplies for magnetron, means of
similar block in the Anode subsystem. creation of an accurate model of a low power magnetron as an
electrical load for on-the-fly simulations with different circuits
IV. RESULTS OF THE SIMULATION or element parameters might prove useful to accelerate the
Using the model shown in Fig. 6, we studied transient development process.
processes in power supply system of the magnetron The complexity of the proposed approach is compensated
LG 2M214. The results of the calculations are shown in by precision of the simulation of both electrical and thermal
Fig. 10. processes. Presented approach of a magnetron modeling was
1 used in simulation of different magnetron generator
0 configurations and simulated curves of the transient
phenomena had good convergence with the experimental data.
Anode voltage (kV)

-1

-2

-3
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