High voltage current and voltage sources

How difficult is it to make a compact transformerless high voltage
current and voltage source? Is it possible to adapt the current
topology with properly rated components and achieve this affect or
modify existing low voltage techniques with such components?

For example, suppose I want a current source of around 1mA with a
1000V compliance. Could I adapt an LM317(or variant) to drive a
capable BJT for such loads?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Current_source

Shows many basic topologies for current sources and it is my belief
that ideally they all work for any voltage and current. Is this
correct? Is my problem dealing simply with component capabilities and
isolation issues?

Similarly, for switched mode topologies such as a buck-boost if I were
to use capable components(high voltage ratings) and diligently deal
with isolation issues could I expect to have success?

Potentially my issues lay with finding the properly rated components
or finding exotic methods to modify existing components for such
capabilities?

Alternatively, are there any high voltage IC voltage and current
sources?

James

 

I failed to mention some of the specs: DC, continuous operation,
maximum 1000V, maximum 10mA-1A. At this point I'm only worried about
the low end current range of about 10mA but in the future I do believe
I might need possibly a 1000W supply

 

The short answer is that it is possible, but it would take a
complicated, bulky and expensive circuit. Anybody who took the job on
would want to know a lot more about what you were actually trying to
do, and why.

If you don't want to publish the kind of detail in a public forum, you
are welcome to e-mail me directly (the adress I post under here -
bill.sloman at ieee.org - is real and works). It's unlikely that I
would be able to do the job for you but I've got a couple of private e-
mail adresses that might be able to help.

 

Why do you want it to be transformerless?

How big is compact?

At 1000W it likely has to be mains powered. What is the mains
voltage?

What does the load look like?

Can the output terminals look capacitive?

 

Fairly large, if it includes surface and airflow for extracting
1kW worth of heat.

A transformer would be smaller.

Cheers,
James Arthur

 

Define 'transformerless'; a Model T spark coil generates high
voltage, it's CALLED a coil but it's also an autotransformer.

An LM317 requires several milliamps output current for normal bias,
so it won't do the low current range. As for high voltage, you can
get
amplifiers (grounded-base transistor) that take current at low voltage
as input (emitter current) and generate current at high voltage as
output (collector current). That means you can potentially separate
the 'current regulate' and 'high voltage' problems.

There are (currently on the market) no good references for high
voltage; the Zener diode, or bandgap reference, or integrated circuit
regulator using them, will be a part of your low voltage section.
There ARE some high voltage ICs, but unless you're manufacturing
motor controls it's unlikely you can find ones that do what you want.
Integration doesn't, in and of itself, constitute a virtue.

I've used 4.5 GV systems, which qualify as 'exotic'. Most of the
1kV-and-under electronic field seems ... domestic... to me.

 

MOSFETs as common gate stages work too.

 

Sorry for not being clear and thanks for the replies.

I want to create several power supply from mains(110V or 220V AC) to
~0-1000V DC @ 10-100mA. I need several *variable/programmable*
voltage and current sources in the same housing. Weight is a big issue
but temperature/heat is not if within reason. These sources need to
operate continuously.

The initial supply can actually be from DC by using a large
transformer rather from mains if need be. Ripple is not a huge issue <
1-3%. Size is important but secondary to weight. The loads is mainly
resistive but with with some capacitance probably less all less than
1nf.

I believe that any standard topology used for for standard
microelectronics projects, if adaptable to the higher voltage, would
work fine. I am drifting towards using a simple switching topology.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Split-pi Seems like it would work fine if
using igbts and give me the variability/probability I desire and
somewhat lower in weight than an equivalent transformer based system.

Also, of course is the standard http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flyback_converter
..

Again, regulation is not necessarily an issue as I can do it before
the power supply so a simple linear attenuation could work, at least
for prototyping. Switchers seem to be the way to go though. My
question is, would it be difficult to adapt such topologies to the
voltages I require? As far as I can tell I would just have to find the
rated components? Is this correct?

Thanks,
James

 

"whit3rd" <> a écrit dans le message de

4.5GV ?

With spice I can deal with that everyday, but is that really GV?
I can think of MV, but GV...
What was that?

 

Uh, how can this have been granted a patent?

Is the next step patenting a two stages resistor divider?
Well, no it can't now. I've just made it public domain...

 

It was an ultrarelativistic synchrotron, SPEAR by name.
Basically a vacuum tube with a bunch of trapped electrons
(positive electrons, usually) going in circles.

Individual kinetic energy of the positrons was routinely set
at 4.5 GeV, there weren't actually any static fields that
were creating such a large potential difference.

The power supply was a two-mile-long linear accelerator...
strung out collections of megawatt power klystrons...
like I say, exotic. The best part was the safety orientation,
all about the various safety features (4 foot concrete for
radiation shielding; alarms for: hydrogen leaks, earthquake,
and radiation; interlocks that could shutdown the whole
two-mile linear accelerator if your doors weren't shut).

 

"whit3rd" <> a écrit dans le message de

OK, I surrender with my very modest 30keV accelerator (but I guess you
couldn't display as beautiful images as I could with mine).
But now that I've switched to LCD, kinetic energy is even more depressingly
low...