Parasitic Parameters Design Consideration and Its Optimization Technique of High-Voltage Pulse Transformer for Ignition Module

The ignition module is the start-up of the pulsed plasma thrusters (PPT), in which the high-voltage pulse transformer is the most important component, as its output characteristics can affect the reliability of PPT ignition. This article discusses the influence of the parasitic parameters of the high-voltage pulse transformer on the output pulse waveform. It reveals that the leakage inductance of the high-voltage pulse transformer is the root factor affecting the output voltage’s rise time, while parasitic capacitance and excitation inductance have little influence and can be ignored in most real applications. The smaller the leakage inductance of the high-voltage pulse transformer, the better the overall performance of the output pulse voltage waveform. The toroidal high-voltage pulse transformer’s leakage inductance mechanism is analyzed based on the electromagnetic field principle, and the theoretical calculation model of leakage inductance is established. Furthermore, the high-voltage pulse transformer optimization guideline is proposed. The optimized high-voltage pulse transformer can reduce leakage inductance by 71.8%. Finally, the experimental results verify the theoretical analysis to be correct and useful.