A ∼500 kV/400 kA/100 ns pulsed power generator (PPG-I) for
x-pinch experiments was designed and constructed at Tsinghua University.
It is composed of a Marx generator, a combined pulse forming line (PFL), a
gas-filled V/N field distortion switch, a transfer line, and a
copper-sulphate resistive load for testing. The PPG-I implements a novel
design in lines that four pieces of waterline with impedance 5Ω in
parallel constitute a combined PFL with 1.25Ω, and incorporate each
other by a common self-break V/N switch on a matched 1.25Ω
transfer line. At the peak charging voltage of the PFL, the V/N switch
breaks down in multi-channel discharge mode, and electric energy is fed
into the testing load through the 1.25Ω transfer line. This article
presents the design and test of the PPG-I generator.