A High Voltage Direct Current Generator

Abstract

When powdered materials are blown through metal tubes by means of compressed air considerable quantities of electricity are produced by contact electrification. It was found that 6\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}5}$ coulombs could be produced per gram of diatomaceous earth, a form of silica, blown through a short length of copper tube. A generator of extremely high voltage is proposed, and a small scale model of such a generator is described, by means of which currents of 8\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}5}$ amperes at 260 kilovolts were generated.