SBIR-STTR Award

Due to limited resources, most innovative confinement concept (ICC) fusion research experiments have little or no feedback control of their operational parameters, preventing achievement of their full operational potential. Switching-power amplifiers (SPAs) have been successfully used on some of these experiments, but only with ad hoc, analog-based controllers that are difficult to modify for other feedback methods. The ICC program would greatly benefit from inexpensive and flexible controllers for SPAs. This project will develop, test, refine, and implement flexible programmable controllers for the SPAs used on ICC experiments. Advanced feedback and control capabilities will be developed for these controllers to greatly expand the operational potential of ICC experiments. In Phase I, the basic controller hardware will be designed, constructed, and tested. First, the standard methods of single-input analog controllers will be reproduced, and then improvements will be made to the control algorithms. Finally, multiple-input capability will be added for further flexibility.

Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee:
These programmable controllers should greatly expand the capabilities of switching power amplifiers. Benefits include greatly expanded operational capabilities of ICC experiments as well as training of new fusion scientists in control of plasmas. These controllers also should make an attractive commercial product for a wide variety of general-purpose high-speed high-power supplies needing accurate control of their output waveforms