Deployment and Performance Evaluation of an Indigenously Designed High-Voltage Pulse Capacitor Bank for S-Band Dual-Polarized Doppler Weather Radar

Abstract

S-band Doppler weather radars operate at a 10 cm wavelength, minimizing atmospheric attenuation and enabling long-range coverage of up to 500 km. Their performance relies on a klystron-based transmitter that delivers 1 MW peak and 250 kW average power. The pulse assembly module, responsible for high-voltage power generation, includes a pulse capacitor bank, pulse transformer, filament filter, current transformer, and klystron socket. The capacitor bank consists of two 40 μF shunt-connected assemblies, providing 3 kV low-inductance capacitance for stable pulse generation. In this study, an indigenously developed high-voltage pulse capacitor bank was integrated into the system, replacing the damaged original with necessary modifications to enhance durability and performance. Performance assessment during Cyclonic Storm Sitrang showed minimal output power loss of −0.98 dBm for 1 μs pulses and −0.96 dBm for 2 μs pulses, confirming system reliability. The modified radar maintained stable operation, ensuring precise weather data acquisition and demonstrating the effectiveness of the capacitor bank replacement in extreme weather conditions. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2026.