Needed help!!! Kelvin's water drop generator doesn't work!!!

I recently made a Kelvin's water drop electrostatic generator. but unfortunately it doesn't generate spark ;( At the top of collectors cans there are some small holes, to allow water to circulate (I made the pump version). The nozzles are made from plastic garden valves. The frame is made from wood, and screwed with metal screws. The water supply is a plastic flowerpot, it is grounded to the radiator. The water drops break in the middle of upper cans.

What's wrong? What I did not propely? Could someone help me, because I spent a lot of time doing this, and I don't want to waste it.

I suspect, that the key is a not-wooden or metal frame, isn't it?

My frame is made totally from wood, but it is a good work, so I if this isn't the problem, I would like not to destory it. Thaks a lot.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Kelvin's
• water
• drop
• generator
• thunderstorm
• spark

[urbannika]

I have a question. Is it ok if there are holes in the lower cans? Ow yeah, I`ve read that if the upper cans are lower, more voltage they will pruduce. And you can all so use some alumenum (I know it`s not spelled this way) pipe or something. That`s what I used!

[kubawlo]

@urbannika I think that the holes in the lower cans are interrupting the charge to collect. I also think that wood is too conductive and the negative and positive charge neutralize each other, so that there is no potentials difference. Read comments.

[kristiankroflin]

Are the lower cans coated with some kind of plastic inside (can be translucent or white)? Did you measure the resistance between the upper left and the lower right can and betwen the upper right and the lower left one?

[kubawlo]

I don't think, that the cans are coated. I have to check resistance, but it is rather low.

[kubawlo]

Well, if only I will find some spare time to buy PVC pipes and mount everything on plastic frame, I let you know what happens :)

[kubawlo]

The water flow must break in the center of the upper cans, because there can't be any connection between upper and lower cans in one line.

[MilanKarakas]

@MilanKarakas Oh, it is really hard to describe in only 500 character...

[MilanKarakas]

Geometry is all what is wrong (aside using wood as an insulator).

As stream of water tend to spread when 'electrified', middle (open) cans, and especially bottom two cans should be much bigger than one starting from the top.

Imagine positive droplet trying to get into already positive charged bottom container, it tend to flay away - mostly into direction of already negative charged container. So, make bottom really big, and top as narrow as possible.

Note vertical (droplet) axis well aligned.

[OrbitalOutpost]

The design looks all wrong to me. Basically you have to have one can on top. The drops must come out separated. The idea is that each individual drop has a + or - electron. Then you need to have 2 plates one on each side of the falling path that are wired to the opposite collecting cans below. An electrostatitc field is built up between the plates causing the drops to sort out and fall into their appropriate can. One can is + the other -.

[Longuncattr]

The biggest problem is the wood frame. Wood is very porous and can absorb water that can then form a conduction path. When dealing with high voltages, wood should be treated the same as any metal; it only insulates at low voltages.

[josephdupont]

I thought you needed drops so that the current cant follow up the stream.

and a n aluminum capacitor might help too..

[jeancolmor]

is everybody sliping the cans are scrued togather with wood witch is very similar to skin

[hintzofcolorconcepts]

You should try what God did in the thunder clouds and break the water up into droplets as they fall so the stream does not short out the charge generated.

Two separate buckets at the bottom could also collect the water and maintain the charge rather than letting them share a common basin.

[jerryberry121]

thrs wood, u cant hv any wood, it stops the electricty to flow properly for some reason!!

[soundiris]

it doesn't work because yo connected the inductor and collector cans with a wood board. yo cannot connect them like that. with any media i recommend. and specially with wood because wood is usually is a conductor for charge. and in a damp environment it really is a conductor. so leave them separately and mount them on vertical plastic or pvc tubes or rods.

[RyanAlexander87]

I doesn't work because you are pumping the water from the bottom basin to the top.  This creates no potential difference and therefore no spark. If you would instead stop the bottom buckets from dripping into the basin, it would work since it allows potential difference to build.