Analysis of the dynamic and steady-state performance of Cockcroft-Walton cascade rectifiers

A detailed analysis, based on digital simulation, of the Cockcroft-Walton rectifier, including transient and steady-state voltages and currents on any component, was performed. It is shown that the numerical solution of the system may be effectively implemented by coupling the modified nodal approach formulation of the circuit equations with companion models and piecewise linear approximations of nonlinear elements. Good agreement between simulated and experimental results confirmed the validity of the proposed model/program. In the transient analysis it was shown that the start-up time of a Cockcroft-Walton rectifier is directly related to the number of stages, increasing as the number of stages increases. The output voltage regulation characteristics are worse for a larger number of stages. A study of the influence of an inductance in series with the voltage source showed that it may be chosen in such a way as to increase the output average voltage and improve its regulation. The analysis of this rectifier fed by a square-wave voltage source showed that, in this case, the output voltage regulation is improved. However, the output voltage overshoots and input current peaks are increased.<>