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.
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.
Rotating-Disc High Voltage Generator
Rotating-disc high voltage generator uses induction instead of the friction method. The electric charge will be transported from the ground potential to the HV terminal by charge carriers, which rotate in the insulators disk. Charge carriers make electrical contact through the inductors’ electrodes. The inductor does not move and they are located in an outer ring.