1) What are the factors that limit the number of stages for a High Voltage Multiplier Circuit?
The voltage drop and ripple increase dramatically as the number of stages increase. It is thus not common to have beyond six stages for a Voltage Multiplier.
2) How can the Voltage drop and ripple be reduced?
The voltage drop and ripple can be reduced by increasing the frequency or by increasing the stage capacitance in subsequent stages. To reduce the ripple the capacitance of the first stage is kept at a higher value as compared to the subsequent stages.
3) In a High Voltage Multiplier Circuit are the stage capacitances equal?
The analysis is carried out assuming that the capacitance for each stage is equal, but in practice it is graded, in a sense that the first few stages have a greater value as compared to the subsequent stages.
4) What are the common applications of a High Voltage DC Multiplier?
They are used in low powered particle accelerators, where a high ripple content is an advantage and helpful in realizing a significant energy spread in the ion beams. They are also used for charging capacitor banks to high voltages at roughly constant charging power.
5) How much of load current can be supplied by the Multiplier?
Both the ripple and voltage drop are directly proportional to the current drawn by the load. Thus, as the load current increases there is a significant increase in the ripple and voltage drop. Load currents are restricted to 10 mA.