[KSCI] Korea Science Citation Index Service

http://dx.doi.org/10.6113/JPE.2011.11.4.591

Medium Voltage Power Supply with Enhanced Ignition Characteristics for Plasma Torches

Jung, Kyung-Sub (Dept. of Electrical Eng., Chonbuk National University)
Suh, Yong-Sug (Dept. of Electrical Eng., Chonbuk National University)

Publication Information

Journal of Power Electronics / v.11, no.4, 2011 , pp. 591-598 More about this Journal

Abstract

This paper investigates a power supply of medium voltage with enhanced ignition characteristics for plasma torches. A series resonant half-bridge topology is presented as a suitable ignition circuitry. The ignition circuitry is integrated into the main power conversion system of a multi-phase staggered three-level dc-dc converter with a diode front-end rectifier. A plasma torch rated at 3MW, 2kA and having a physical size of 1m is selected to be the high enthalpy source for a waste disposal system. The steady-state and transient operations of a plasma torch are simulated. The parameters of a Cassie-Mary arc model are calculated based on 3D magneto-hydrodynamic simulations. The circuit simulation waveform shows that the ripple of the arc current can be maintained within ${\pm}10%$ of its rated value under the presence of a load disturbance. This power conversion configuration provides a high enough ignition voltage, around 5KA, during the ignition phase and high arc stability under the existence of arc disturbance noise resulting in a high-performance plasma torch system.

Keywords

Half-bridge resonant converter; Medium voltage; Plasma torch; Waste disposal system;

Citations & Related Records

Times Cited By Web Of Science : 0 (Related Records In Web of Science)
Times Cited By SCOPUS : 1

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