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Volume 18
Issue 19
10.3390/en18195129
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Development and Optimization of a 10-Stage Solid-State Linear Transformer Driver

by
Keegan Kelp
1,*,
Dawson Wright
1,
Kirk Schriner
1,
Jacob Stephens
1,
James Dickens
1,
John Mankowski
1,
Zach Shaw
2 and
Andreas Neuber
1,*
1
Center for Pulsed Power and Power Electronics, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA
2
Nevada National Security Site, North Las Vegas, NV 89193, USA
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Energies 2025, 18(19), 5129; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18195129
Submission received: 28 August 2025 / Revised: 18 September 2025 / Accepted: 24 September 2025 / Published: 26 September 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Electromagnetic Technology for Electrical Engineering)
Versions Notes

Abstract

This work details the development of a 10-stage solid-stage linear transformer driver (SSLTD) capable of producing 24 kV, 1 kA pulses with a rise-time of ∼10 ns utilizing SiC MOSFET switches. Throughout the development process, various design parameters were investigated for their influence on the LTD’s performance. Among these considerations was an evaluation of the behavior of several nanocrystalline magnetic core materials subject to high-voltage pulsed conditions, with an emphasis on minimizing energy losses. Another design parameter of interest lies in the physical layout of the LTD structure, particularly the diameter of the central stalk and the dielectric material, which together define the characteristics of the coaxial transmission line, as well as the overall height of each stage. The influence of each of these parameters was weighed to optimize the final design for fastest output pulse rise-time, highest efficiency, and cleanest output pulse waveform profile across varying load resistance. This work also introduces a pulsed reset technique, where repetition-rated burst testing was used to find the maximum operational frequency of the LTD without driving the magnetic cores into saturation.
Keywords: linear transformer driver; solid-state switching; nanocrystalline magnetic core linear transformer driver; solid-state switching; nanocrystalline magnetic core

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MDPI and ACS Style

Kelp, K.; Wright, D.; Schriner, K.; Stephens, J.; Dickens, J.; Mankowski, J.; Shaw, Z.; Neuber, A. Development and Optimization of a 10-Stage Solid-State Linear Transformer Driver. Energies 2025, 18, 5129. https://doi.org/10.3390/en18195129

AMA Style

Kelp K, Wright D, Schriner K, Stephens J, Dickens J, Mankowski J, Shaw Z, Neuber A. Development and Optimization of a 10-Stage Solid-State Linear Transformer Driver. Energies. 2025; 18(19):5129. https://doi.org/10.3390/en18195129

Chicago/Turabian Style

Kelp, Keegan, Dawson Wright, Kirk Schriner, Jacob Stephens, James Dickens, John Mankowski, Zach Shaw, and Andreas Neuber. 2025. "Development and Optimization of a 10-Stage Solid-State Linear Transformer Driver" Energies 18, no. 19: 5129. https://doi.org/10.3390/en18195129

APA Style

Kelp, K., Wright, D., Schriner, K., Stephens, J., Dickens, J., Mankowski, J., Shaw, Z., & Neuber, A. (2025). Development and Optimization of a 10-Stage Solid-State Linear Transformer Driver. Energies, 18(19), 5129. https://doi.org/10.3390/en18195129

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