Voltage Multiplier

Thread Starter

Papabravo

Joined Feb 24, 2006
21,159
Apropos an earlier thread in which the TS hypothesizes wistfully about a device that could provide 1 Megavolt @ 100 Amperes, I replied that is was reasonable to create either high voltage or high current, but not both at the same time.

https://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/threads/help-with-a-pulse-circuit-design.171241/#post-1530656

In order to refresh my memory on the subject and to explore some less familiar aspects of LTspice, I created this simulation for a Cockcroft Walton Voltage Multiplier.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockcroft–Walton_generator

It was used by Messrs. Cockcroft and Walton, in 1932, to power their particle accelerator. This circuit will raise an AC voltage to a higher level, but the operation is sensitive to how much current is to be delivered to the load. In most applications this would be microamps to no more than about 5 milliamperes. I have attached .png files of the circuit, using two stages of "doubling", and a plot of the output waveforms. Also included is the .asc file so you can play with that if you wish.

Some experiments you could perform if you so desire are:
  1. Add constant current loads at the DC output points to see the effect.
  2. Experiment with the turns ratio on the transformer. This is controlled by the primary and secondary inductances.
  3. Change diode types to see the effect of substituting silicon diodes for the Schottky diodes
  4. Change the waveform to a sine wave or a PWM to see what happens.
PB
C-W_VoltageMultiplier.png C-W_VoltageMultiplier_Plots.png


PS Let me know if you discover anything interesting.
 

Attachments

Last edited:
Top