Cockroft-Walton Voltage Multiplier Circuit

This circuit shows a simulation of Cockroft-Walton Multiplier Circuit Using a "Voltage Doubler" module for generating HVDC.

The CW generator is a voltage multiplier that converts AC electrical power from a low voltage level to a higher DC voltage level. It is made up of a voltage multiplier ladder network of capacitors and diodes to generate high voltages. Unlike transformers, this method eliminates the requirement for the heavy core and the bulk of insulation/potting required. Using only capacitors and diodes, these voltage multipliers can step up relatively low voltages to extremely high values, while at the same time being far lighter and cheaper than transformers. The biggest advantage of such circuits is that the voltage across each stage of the cascade is equal to only twice the peak input voltage in a half-wave rectifier. In a full-wave rectifier it is three times the input voltage. It has the advantage of requiring relatively low-cost components and being easy to insulate. One can also tap the output from any stage, like in a multi-tapped transformer.

This is developed in MATLAB 6.0 Using SIMULINK for academic teaching purpose.