On 11/28/2015 7:38 AM, Christopher Tidy wrote:
About 20 years ago I worked with a physicist, he thought this might
work. So as his tech I proceeded to build a Van de Graaff with oil as
the medium to move the charge, We used a sump pump to pump the oil.
It didn't work on the first try, and there was no attempt to alter
it to make it work. I don't know if he figured out a flaw in the idea,
or, if we decided we needed to go back to money making work. I was
disappointed, it was just dropped with no further thought.
We did use a high voltage power supply as you suggest above.
Mikek

Hi Mike,

That's interesting to hear that someone has already tried it. I'd be keen to hear a little more about the details of the design and materials, if you can recall them. There might be a fundamental problem, but it might just be a minor design issue which could be resolved.

Best wishes,

Chris


Ya, I don't remember much. We used pvc riser tube, about 4 ft tall.
A possible power supply was 12kV, I don't recall, but I know we had
those on the shelf. I think we used a stainless steel bowl as the
accumulator. Sorry can't give you much info.
Mikek