SBIR-STTR Award

Particle accelerators commonly use klystrons as high gain amplifiers in their radio frequency systems to drive charged particles through accelerator cavities. Compared to magnetrons, klystrons are less efficient in terms of input power to radio frequency power conversion and more expensive in dollars/watt. Thus, to fully exploit the capabilities and performance of the magnetrons and reduce energy usage there is a need for inexpensive, ultra- efficient, very low noise power supplies and related electronics for magnetrons which is what we propose to accomplish in this Department of Energy SBIR. To address this problem and opportunity we propose to investigate, design, develop, implement and commercialize low-cost, inexpensive low noise fast switching direct current high voltage power supplies and modulators for powering magnetrons that are ultra-efficient, provide enhanced flexibility and performance and reduce energy consumption that power the magnetrons. Design, research, develop, implement, characterize and test prototype low cost, inexpensive, low noise fast switching magnetron direct current high voltage power supplies and modulators concepts and implementations and provide a report summarizing the results obtained including for the proof of feasibility prototype to be performed as part of the Phase I effort for this Department of Energy SBIR. There are a number of commercial, technical, economic, social, and other benefits to the public including reduced energy/power consumption, fundamental advances in science, higher performance and functionality and lower cost power supplies for industrial magnetrons which are used in a diverse variety of application, markets and sectors including in industrial, medical, defense and scientific applications, industrial heating, radiotherapy, radar, cargo scanning, process heating, cooking including large scale cooking and food preparation, industrial drying, plasma and heating, particle accelerators, nuclear physics and high energy physics. Most industrial microwave equipment use magnetrons to generate the required microwave energy due to the relative low-cost, compactness, easy operation and efficiency that magnetrons provide. The public will also greatly benefit from competitive diverse power supplies and controls that continue to drive cost down while increasing USA manufacturing and creating USA jobs.

Particle accelerators commonly use klystrons as high gain amplifiers in their radio frequency systems to drive charged particles through accelerator cavities. Compared to magnetrons, klystrons are less efficient in terms of input power to radio frequency power conversion and more expensive in dollars/watt. Thus, to fully exploit the capabilities andperformance of the magnetrons and reduce energy usage there is a need for inexpensive, ultra- efficient, very low noise power supplies and related electronics for magnetrons which is what we propose to accomplish in this Department of Energy SBIR. To address this problem and opportunity we propose to investigate, design, develop, implement and commercialize low-cost, inexpensive low noise fast switching direct current high voltage power supplies and modulators for powering magnetrons that are ultra-efficient, provide enhanced flexibility and performance and reduce energy consumption that power the magnetrons. Design, research, develop, implement, characterize and test prototype low cost, inexpensive, low noise fast switching magnetron direct current high voltage power supplies and modulators concepts and implementations and provide a report summarizing the results obtained including for the proof of feasibility prototype to be performed as part of the Phase I effort for this Department of Energy SBIR. Build on the prototype magnetron power supply Phase I solution and improve and enhance. Design for modularity in the magnetron DC high voltage power supplies and associated electronics. Complete design of the adaptive control/feedback. Implement, test, verify and validate a power supply system with multi-modules to power various types of magnetrons. We will also characterize, test and analyze experimentally measured results. There are a number of commercial, technical, economic, social, and other benefits to the public including reduced energy/power consumption, fundamental advances in science, higher performance and functionality and lower cost power supplies for industrial magnetrons which are used in a diverse variety of application, markets and sectors including in industrial, medical, defense and scientific applications, industrial heating, radiotherapy, radar, cargo scanning, process heating, cooking including large scale cooking and food preparation, industrial drying, plasma and heating, particle accelerators, nuclear physics and high energy physics. Most industrial microwave equipment use magnetrons to generate the required microwave energy due to the relative low-cost, compactness, easy operation and efficiency that magnetrons provide. The public will also greatly benefit from competitive diverse power supplies and controls that continue to drive cost down while increasing USA manufacturing and creating USA jobs.