Modelling of Multiple Electrode Van de Graaff Generators with up-Charge and down-Charge Processes

Van de Graaff generators with multiple electrodes came about as a result of the demand for ever increasing voltages in various fields of science. The transient behaviour of these generators is mostly determined by their internal electrode arrangements. In the analysis given here these effects are divided into two categories; the effect of the column electrode structure and that caused by the large intermediate shields. The modelling shown here takes into consideration both effects and shows the way of analysing these high voltage generators with up to n internal electrodes. The results show the striking difference in behaviour of these generators with up-charge and down-charge processes. The numerical example given was based on one of the existing Vand de Graaff generators in Oxford.