Impulse Power Supply Waveform Control for Direct RF LINAC Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-power RF LINAC systems face challenges in efficiently coupling RF power due to multipactoring issues and the need for additional hardware, which increases cost, size, and complexity, while existing solutions struggle with high-power dissipation and coolant selection for vacuum tubes.
Innovation Solution
A system that injects RF power directly into RF LINACs using a controlled power supply with energy storage capacitors and a controlled pulse power transistor group, allowing for user-specified pulse waveforms and placement of RF power amplifier components outside the vacuum environment to mitigate multipactoring and enable efficient cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If RF power is coupled into high-power RF cavity via waveguide and hermetic RF window, then high power transmission is achieved, but cost, size and complexity of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the RF amplifier assembly from the vacuum environment and places it outside the vacuum chamber. This eliminates the need for hermetic RF windows and complex vacuum feedthroughs, directly reducing system complexity while maintaining high power transmission capability through direct coupling to the cavity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the RF amplifier assembly directly with the RF cavity by coupling the amplifier output stage directly to the cavity structure. This integration eliminates intermediate transmission components like waveguides and hermetic windows, reducing both complexity and component count while maintaining power transmission
2Power
If vacuum tube with tuning elements is placed within vacuum envelope, then RF power amplification is achieved, but multipactoring occurs preventing high power operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the entire RF amplifier assembly including vacuum tube and tuning elements from the vacuum envelope. By placing these components outside the vacuum chamber, the multipactoring issue is eliminated entirely while the amplifier can still deliver high power to the RF cavity through direct coupling
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the RF cavity itself as an intermediary to transfer power from the amplifier assembly outside vacuum to the acceleration region inside vacuum. This eliminates the need for vacuum-compatible amplifiers while maintaining high power operation capability
3Volume of stationary object
If RF amplifier is mounted on RF cavity with direct output stage coupling, then system size is reduced, but high power dissipation in antenna and anode requires active cooling and careful coolant selection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the RF cavity structure as a thermal intermediary, coupling the amplifier anode directly to the cavity which serves as a heat sink. This allows the cavity to absorb and dissipate heat from both the antenna and anode, eliminating the need for separate active cooling systems while maintaining compact size
Solution Approach 2:
The RF cavity serves multiple functions including acting as its own cooling system by absorbing heat from the amplifier components. The cavity's large thermal mass and connection to the vacuum chamber environment provide passive thermal management, reducing system complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces the complexity and cost of RF LINAC systems by eliminating the need for transmission lines and allowing for easier maintenance, while improving power efficiency and reducing the risk of multipactoring and surface flashover.
Implementation Method 1
The controlled power supply includes a group of energy storage capacitors configured to supply via corresponding power rails a main negative rail voltage, a positive kick rail voltage, and at least one intermediate rail voltage
Implementation Method 2
The system includes a controlled pulse power transistor group comprising a plurality of transistors interposed between the energy storage capacitors and the output pulse rail
Data Source
AI summary
A system and associated method are described. The system includes a controlled power supply for generating electrical pulses for a plasma discharge source. The controlled power supply includes an output pulse rail, a direct current power source, and energy storage capacitors, coupled to the direct current power source. The energy storage capacitors are configured to supply: a main negative rail voltage, a positive kick rail voltage, and at least one intermediate rail voltage. A controlled pulse power transistor group includes: a plurality of transistors interposed between the energy storage capacitors and the output pulse rail, and a transmission control configured to control power transmission. The transmission control is configured to specify a positive kick pulse waveform defined by user-specified parameters that configure operation of the plurality of transistors to control timing and voltage of the positive kick rail voltage and the at least one intermediate rail voltage.