Cockcroft-Walton voltage multiplier‑based argon vacuum gauge for high‑temperature applications

P. N. Sidhartha; Tejus V. Kusur; Sarda Sharma; Karumbaiah N. Chappanda

Cockcroft-Walton voltage multiplier‑based argon vacuum gauge for high‑temperature applications

P. N. Sidhartha

Tejus V. Kusur

Sarda Sharma

Karumbaiah N. Chappanda

Vol. 24, No. 1, pp. 32-41, Jan. 2024

10.1007/s43236-023-00695-z

Cockcroft-Walton voltage multiplier

Abstract

A cost-effective argon atmosphere vacuum gauge based on direct current (DC) excited glow discharge plasma for harsh environmental conditions is presented in this paper. The gauge comprises two copper electrodes separated by a pre-defined gap (1 mm, 5 mm, 10 mm, or 15 mm) excited with a 1.8 kV DC supply using a Cockcroft-Walton (CW) voltage multiplier circuit to measure vacuum pressures from 0.05 to 5 mbar. After gas breakdown has occurred, the voltage across the electrodes (plasma voltage response) is measured with a change in pressure. The proposed gauge with a 5 mm electrode gap showed an average sensitivity of 276 V/mbar with excellent thermal stability from 25 to 400 °C. The hysteresis of the gauge is 11% over the full scale and shows an average plasma voltage response deviation of 0.9 mV/h with time when tested for 10 h under a continuous mode of operation. Overall, the device shows promise in the development of a low-cost vacuum gauge with good sensitivity and excellent immunity to high-temperature environments.

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Cite this article

[IEEE Style]

P. N. Sidhartha, T. V. Kusur, S. Sharma, K. N. Chappanda, "Cockcroft-Walton voltage multiplier‑based argon vacuum gauge for high‑temperature applications," Journal of Power Electronics, vol. 24, no. 1, pp. 32-41, 2024. DOI: 10.1007/s43236-023-00695-z.

[ACM Style]

P. N. Sidhartha, Tejus V. Kusur, Sarda Sharma, and Karumbaiah N. Chappanda. 2024. Cockcroft-Walton voltage multiplier‑based argon vacuum gauge for high‑temperature applications. Journal of Power Electronics, 24, 1, (2024), 32-41. DOI: 10.1007/s43236-023-00695-z.