I managed to run my Pop-bottle electrostatic motor from an in-line version
of "Kelvin's Thunderstorm" electrostatic generator based on aluminum bundt
pans. Multiple copies of this generator can be stacked up, so in theory,
REAL thunderstorm potentials could be attained if garage sales would only
make enough bundt pans available!
......................uuuu / oo \ uuuu........,.............................
William Beaty voice:206-781-3320 bbs:206-789-0775 cserv:71241,3623
EE/Programmer/Science exhibit designer http://www.eskimo.com/~billb/
Seattle, WA 98117 billb@eskimo.com SCIENCE HOBBYIST web page
AN IN-LINE WATERDROP ELECTROSTATIC GENERATOR (c)1996 William Beaty
Electricity and water do not mix? Wrong! This device creates electrical
energy by slowing down water droplets as they fall. It gives a high
voltage DC output at a current of microamperes. The water exiting the
bottom is uncharged, and you could easily feed it to another complete
unit stacked in series.
The diagram below depicts a version built from funnels and aluminum
jello molds or bundt pans (the ring-shaped kind with the large opening
in the center.) However, you could build an enormous version if you
were to replace the jello molds with large wooden barrels or 55gal
drums with their bottoms cut out. ** bzZAP! **
This thing looks like some sort of particle accelerator. Actually, it
is just the opposite. It decelerates particles and provides electrical
energy, rather than using up electrical energy in order to accelerate
particles.
__________
/ \....../ \ Jello Mold with
|___|____|___| metal screen
(positive collector)
\ / Bowl to catch
\ / water
\___________/
Note: actual charge polarity is spontaneously chosen at start-up. The
above "positive" and "negative" labels are for convenience, and will end
up reversed half the time.