Factors controlling the performance of cascade rectifier circuits

A method is derived of distributing the stage capacitances of a single-phase cascade generator which minimises the output ripple caused by load current. The design of a generator must also take account of the voltage-regulation characteristic, and a procedure is outlined for optimising the generator performance. The characteristics of symmetrical cascade generators are analysed, and a new fullwave circuit of improved regulation characteristics is described. The presence of stray capacitance between the feed and load columns of the generator causes output ripple and loss of output voltage; the amplitude of ripple due to this cause is calculated. At low load currents the limitation upon performance is imposed by the characteristics of the rectifying components. This has been examined for the case of metal rectifiers. It is shown that the minimum output ripple obtainable is determined by the reverse conductivity of the rectifiers; the voltage regulation depends, upon the ratio of forward to reverse conductivity.