Repetition rate pulsed power technology and its applications:(vii) Major challenges and future trends

In this final article of the review series, Repetition rate pulsed power technology and its applications, the technological problems and the design difficulties are summarized. The operation parameters of a pulsed power system are mostly limited by the switching elements. The technical barriers are mainly cooling, efficiency, and reliability related issues. In addition, the complicated trade-off relations encountered in the pulsed power development are briefly explained. Management of these relations are fundamental engineering challenges for most pulsed power systems. Finally, from the authors viewpoint, the future development trends of this technology are discussed. The repetitive pulsed power technology will expectedly develop toward modularization, generalization, and intellectualization.