Modulated Frequency Multiplier Inverter

Abstract

Many industrial applications such as plasma generation and wireless power transfer require high frequency power inverters (or rf power amplifiers) that are able to output a wide power range despite highly variable load reactances, while also maintaining high efficiency. Previous approaches to this problem, such as switched-mode inverters combined with tunable matching networks provide adequate, albeit bulky, costly, and complex solutions at lower HF frequencies, while at higher frequencies inefficient linear amplifiers dominate. This thesis introduces an efficient inverter (or switched-mode power amplifier) approach that can provide efficient wide-power-range control into a variable load, while being scalable to increased output frequencies compared to conventional designs. We introduce a wide-range power amplifier that uses frequency control to manage reactive load variations, and phase modulation to modulate output power, and frequency multiplication to achieve high output frequency, all while maintaining soft switching. The proposed thesis provides a preliminary development of this modulated frequency multiplier inverter, analyzing and demonstrating it functionality and effectiveness through simulation, showing its ability to achieve high output frequencies, manage wide load reactances, control power over a wide range, and maintain a high efficiency.