List All Projects List Graduate Projects List Senior Design Projects List REU Projects Other Undergraduate Projects
Project # 104
Solid-State Linear Transformer Driver
| Team Lead: | Grady Payne |
| Other Team Members: | Mohamed Elmi | Jean Toumaga |
| Faculty Advisor(s): | Dr. David Wetz |
| Department: | EE |
| Project Type: | Senior Design |
| Title: | Solid-State Linear Transformer Driver |
| Abstract: | This project focuses on the design, simulation, and development of a solid-state Linear Transformer Driver (LTD) for high-power pulsed applications. Building on lessons learned from the Spring 2025 LTD team, we analyzed prior design shortcomings and implemented improvements to enhance reliability and performance. The goal is to develop a pulse power generator capable of producing 10–50 kV pulses, delivering 200–1000 A of output current, and operating at frequencies of 100 kHz to 1 MHz. The LTD architecture uses multiple modules connected in parallel to generate a single, high-power pulse within a nanosecond time scale through pulse adding rather than conventional pulse compression. Key design challenges include minimizing parasitic capacitance and inductance and ensuring sufficient power delivery by removing ferrite beads from the high-voltage side of the circuit. A Metglas magnetic core was selected based on prior successful implementations and detailed analysis. Circuit simulations are performed in LTspice, while PCB design is completed in Altium across module-, semi-stage-, and system-level designs. Future work aims to fabricate a low-parasitic PCB module and achieve a fully functional semi-stage by the end of Spring 2026. |
| Poster: | View Poster #104 (PDF) |
| Judges Scoring: | Submit Evaluation (judges only) |