Van de Graaff Generators

INTRODUCTION
Van De Graff generator is used to generate high potential differences of near about
million volts. The high voltages generated by the generator can be used for accelerating
subatomic particles to high speeds, making the generator a useful tool for fundamental
physics research. It can be used to demonstrate the presence and nature of electric
fields and the functioning of the Van de Graaff Accelerator

DEFINATION
The Van de Graaff generator is one such electrostatic machine which generates very
high voltages, with small output current.
PRINCIPLE
Corona Discharge : Discharging action of sharp points, i.e., electric discharge takes place
in air or gases readily, at pointed conductors.

If the charged conductor is brought in to internal contact with a hollow conductor, all of its
charge transfers to the surface of the hollow conductor and scatters uniformly over it no
matter how high the potential of the latter may be.

Diagram

Construction
1. Lower spry point (comb D)
 2. Motor driven pully
3. Insulated belt
4. High voltage terminal
5. Collector
6. Upper pully insulated form terminal (comb E)
7. Upper spry point
8. Earthed enclosure
Working

The working of Van de Graaff generator is based on the principle of electrostatic

induction and action of points.
A hollow metallic sphere A is mounted on insulating pillars as shown in the diagram
A Pulley B is mounted at the center of the sphere and another pulley C is mounted
near the bottom. A belt made of silk moves over the pulleys. The pulley C is driven
continuously by an electric motor. Two combs shaped conductors D and E having
number of needles, are mounted near the pulleys. The comb D is maintained at a
positive potential of the order of 104 volt by a power supply. The upper comb E is
connected to the inner side of the hollow metal sphere.
Because of the high electric field near the comb D, the air gets ionized due to action
of points, the negative charges in air move towards the needles and positive charges
are repelled on towards the belt. These positive charges stick to the belt, moves up
and reaches near the comb E.
As a result of electrostatic induction, the comb E acquires negative charge and the
sphere acquires positive charge. The acquired positive charge is distributed on the
outer surface of the sphere. The high electric field at the comb E ionizes the air.
Hence, negative charges are repelled to the belt, neutralizes the positive charge on
the belt before the belt passes over the pulley. Hence the descending belt will be left
uncharged.
Thus, the machine, continuously transfers the positive charge to the sphere. As a
result, the potential of the sphere keeps increasing till it attains a limiting value
(maximum). After this stage no more, charge can be placed on the sphere, it starts
leaking to the surrounding due to ionization of the air.
The leakage of charge from the sphere can be reduced by enclosing it in a gas filled
steel chamber at a very high pressure.
APPLICATIONS AND USES
 1. In modern times, the application of Van De Graff generators is largely limited to
academic purposes to demonstrate the practical aspects and concepts of
electrostatic behavior of particles.
2. Primarily designed as a particle accelerator, the Van De Graaff generators are
used in laboratories for demonstration purposes only.
3. Van de Graaff generators were one of the first methods used to study nuclear
physics before the advent of better methods to accelerate particles.
4. The beam of these charged accelerated particles is used to trigger the nuclear
reaction.
5. Accelerated particle beams are used to break atoms for various experiments in
physics.

6. In medicine, such beams are used to treat cancer.

LIMITATIONS

It produces very low intensity of current as compared to voltage.

Maintenance and construction is costly and bulky.

For air, a maximum of 3 million volt can be generated as after that air will ionize.

It cannot accelerate neutral particles.

CASCADED TRANSFORMERS METHOD FOR GENERATING AC HIGH

VOLTAGE
For voltages higher than 400 KV, it is desired to cascade two or more transformers
depending upon the voltage requirements. With this, the weight of the whole unit is
subdivided into single units and, therefore, transport and erection becomes easier. Also,
with this, the transformer cost for a given voltage may be reduced, since cascaded units
need not individually possess the expensive and heavy insulation required in single stage
transformers for high voltages exceeding 345 kV. It is found that the cost of insulation for
such voltages for a single unit becomes proportional to square of operating voltage.

Figure shows a basic scheme for cascading three transformers. The primary of the first
stage transformer is connected to a low voltage supply. A voltage is available across the
secondary of this transformer. The tertiary winding (excitation winding) of first stage has
the same number of turns as the primary winding, and feeds the primary of the second
stage transformer. The potential of the tertiary is fixed to the potential V of the secondary
winding as shown in Figure. The secondary winding of the second stage transformer is
connected in series with the secondary winding of the first stage transformer, so that a
voltage of 2V is available between the ground and the terminal of secondary of the second
stage transformer. Similarly, the stage-III transformer is connected in series with the
second stage transformer. With this the output voltage between ground and the third
stage transformer, secondary is 3V. it is to be noted that the individual stages except the
upper most must have three-winding transformers. The upper most, however, will be a
two winding transformer.

Figure shows metal tank construction of transformers and the secondary winding is not
divided. Here the low voltage terminal of the secondary winding is connected to the tank.
The tank of stage-I transformer is earthed. The tanks of stage-II and stage-III transformers
have potentials of V and 2V, respectively above earth and, therefore, these must be
insulated from the earth with suitable solid insulation. Through h.t. bushings, the leads
from the tertiary winding and the h.v. winding are brought out to be connected to the next
stage transformer.

Figure: Basic 3 stage cascaded transformer

However, if the high voltage windings are of mid-point potential type, the tanks are held
at 0.5 V, 1.5 V and 2.5 V, respectively. This connection results in a cheaper construction
and the high voltage insulation now needs to be designed for V/2 from its tank potential.

Advantages
The natural cooling is sufficient, and the transformers are light and compact.
 Transportation and assembly is easy.
the construction is identical for isolating transformers
Disadvantage of cascading the transformers is that the lower stages of the primaries
of the transformers are loaded more as compared with the upper stages.

RESONANT TRANSFORMER
Whenever the requirement of the test voltage is too much high, a single unit transformer
can not produce such high voltage very economically, because for high voltage
measurement, a single unit transformer construction becomes difficult and costly due to
insulation problems. Moreover, transportation and erection of large transformer
becomes difficult. To overcome these drawbacks, cascading of transformer is done.
But cascading of transformer has also some disadvantages such as
(1) design is complicated. (2) size is bulky. (3) costly. (4) losses are more
(summation of individual transformer) and hence efficiency reduces.
Resonant transformer is one of the best choice for high voltage generation which
operates on resonance phenomenon (XL = Xc). In resonance condition, the current
through test object is very large and that is limited only by the resistance of the
circuit.(read book page 124)