30-second summary
Electrostatic Generator
An electrostatic generator is an electrical generator that produces static electricity, or electricity at high voltage and low continuous current. The electric potential difference (i.e. voltage) can be generated using either of two mechanisms: electrostatic induction or the triboelectric effect.
Such generators generated very high voltage and low current. Because of their inefficiency and the difficulty of insulating machines that produced very high voltages, electrostatic generators had low power ratings and were never used for generation of commercially significant quantities of electric power. Their only practical applications were to power early X-ray tubes and later in some atomic particle accelerators.
Static Electricity
Static electricity is an informal term for phenomena caused by the accumulation of electric charge on the surface of various bodies and objects and their exchange in contact with each other.
Most of the static electricity we encounter every day is caused by the triboelectric effect. The triboelectric effect is a type of contact electrification in which certain materials become electrically charged after they come into contact with one another and then separated.
The friction of the two materials greatly increases the effect due to the frequent contact and separation of these materials. On dry days, static electricity is much more noticeable since the air contains fewer water molecules to allow leakage.
Note that a very high voltage is required to generate every 1mm of an electric arc. Air is a very bad conductor of electricity and has high dielectric strength. The dielectric strength of air is nearly 3000V/mm. Under severe conditions, up to 15 000 Volts have been recorded. It is quite common to experience 5 000V. In fact, many people do not feel a shock from a static electricity discharge of less than about 2 000-4 000V. The main reason that shock caused by static electricity does not hurt anybody is its very low amperage.
Electrostatic Generator
An electrostatic generator is an electrical generator that produces static electricity, or electricity at high voltage and low continuous current. The electric potential difference (i.e. voltage) can be generated using either of two mechanisms: electrostatic induction or the triboelectric effect.
Such generators generated very high voltage and low current. Because of their inefficiency and the difficulty of insulating machines that produced very high voltages, electrostatic generators had low power ratings and were never used for generation of commercially significant quantities of electric power. Their only practical applications were to power early X-ray tubes and later in some atomic particle accelerators.
There are different types of electrostatic generators (ESG’s); they can be friction or induction generators. ESG creates high voltage but has very low current. The voltages can go easily up to a hundred thousand voltages, but the current will only be of a few hundred microamperes. Dielectric materials can increase the breakthrough voltage and produce more electrical energy.
- Wimshurst machine,
- van de Graaff generator,
- Rotating-Disc High Voltage Generator.
Frequently asked questions
Most of the static electricity we encounter every day is caused by the triboelectric effect. This can easily be produced by rubbing two dissimilar materials together, such as rubbing amber with fur or glass with silk. The friction of the two dissimilar materials greatly increases the effect due to the frequent contact and separation of these materials.
It is quite common to experience 5 000V. In fact, many people do not feel a shock from a static electricity discharge of less than about 2 000-4 000V. The main reason that shock caused by static electricity does not hurt anybody is its very low amperage.
There are different types of electrostatic generators (ESG’s); they can be friction or induction generators.
Wimshurst machine,
van de Graaff generator,
Rotating-Disc High Voltage Generator.
