Multilevel High-Voltage Modular Rapid Capacitor Charger

This paper introduces a multilevel high-voltage modular capacitor charger. The unique architecture allows a single front-end to charge several capacitors connected in series with actively balanced voltages. Charge redistribution between the capacitors is carried out using a switched-capacitor balancing circuits. The system's multilevel structure, and modularity that stems from isolated design, enables charging of a distributed energy storage to very high voltages, while the component ratings and stresses are only a fraction of the total voltage. Using this approach, the designer is free to choose optimal energy storage and switching components, rather than using bulky, limited in options high voltage components. The architecture has been validated by simulations as well as on an experimental prototype of 1kW that has been constructed, validating capacitor charging to 1.2kV per module from a 12V input.