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In September 1752 Benjerman Franklin erected an iron rod on
top of his house for experimenting with lightning. A wire stretched
from the iron rod down into the house and out again where he attached
it to his well pump. The middle of the wire was split and bells
were attached to either end. A single silk thread was suspended
between them from which a ball hung. The two Bells would ring
to give notice when the rod became electrified. In his own words
Ben Franklin says,
...I was one night awaked by loud cracks on the staircase.
Starting up and opening the door, I perceived that the brass ball,
instead of vibrating as usual between the bells, was repelled
and kept at a distance from both; while the fire passed, sometimes
in very large, quick cracks from bell to bell, and sometimes in
a continued, dense, white stream, seemingly as large as my finger,
whereby the whole staircase was inlightened (sic) as with sunshine...
If a simple arrangement of equipment can produce such spectacular
displays of atmospheric electricity then the question is, why
aren't we utilizing this electricity instead of relying solely
on fossil fuels? In some limited way I hope that the suggestions
to follow start us on the path towards utilizing atmospheric electricity
as a renewable, non-polluting energy source.
Most people are unaware of the constant flow of electricity between
the earth and sky, and those that are aware claim that the amount
of energy is so minute as to be useless. They (who?) point to
experiments like those performed by B.F.J. Schonland in South
Africa (1927) where he insulated a tree from the ground and connected
it to the earth through a galvanometer to measure the amount of
electricity flowing through it. His experiment however was not
aimed at generating high levels of electricity. It's goal was
to measure the amount of electricity flowing through a notoriously
poor conductor.
Atmospheric electricity exists because the earth and ionosphere
form the plates of a giant capacitor. The ionosphere, which is
a layer of ionized air more than 80 km above the earths surface,
is created by the sun's energy. The light from the sun is so strong
that it breaks apart molecules and atoms of air, leaving ions
(atoms with missing electrons) and free-floating electrons. It
is my belief that the Earth also generates its own source of current
through various means, i.e. The compression of crystalline molecules
of silicon dioxide.
Both of these 'plates' are constantly charging and discharging
their ions throughout the atmosphere. The atmosphere itself acts
as an insulator or dielectric and at certain points may break
down for a more visual display of atmospheric current in the form
of lightning.
In any capacitor its value is judged by a formula, C=.2248 KA/t,
and the Earth/ionosphere capacitor is no exception.
In the formula K = the dielectric constant, this is the material
between the two plates that keeps them from discharging, in the
case of the earth the dielectric is air which has a value of 1.
A = The area of the plates in square inches, the plates being
the earth and the ionosphere. And t = the thickness of the dielectric
in inches. This is the distance between the earth's surface and
the ionosphere.
We can increase the value of any capacitor by increasing the
value of K or A. Meaning, increase the dielectric constant to
make it more difficult for the capacitor to discharge between
the two plates allowing more of a charge to build up, or increasing
the area of the plate so that it can hold more of a charge. Neither
of these option is very realistic when dealing with either the
dielectric constant of the air or the area of the surface of the
planet.
However there is another avenue for increasing the value of
a capacitor, decreasing the value of t. Altering the thickness
of the dielectric, or in this case decreasing it, can be done
by raising the surface of the earth. This can be done by elevating
any object electrically connected to the earth. For centuries
people have observed strange glowing sometimes occurring around
the tops of mountains. This is simply corona created by the discharge
of electricity due in part to the height of the mountain. Though
a mountain is not a good conductor of electricity its height has
significantly decreased the value of t.
Near the surface the potential gradient is about 150 volts per
meter. This means for every meter that you go up from the surface
you pick up an extra 150 volts of potential atmospheric energy.
For example 5 meters = 750 volts. The potential gradient is intensified
around the tip of the elevated conductor much like a pole pushed
under a tarp. The shorter the pole supporting the tarp the less
weight of the tarp's canvas it has to support, or the less it
raises the surface potential.
An example of potential gradient can also be found in another
of Mr. Franklin's inventions, the lightning rod. A lightning rod
is simply a copper rod that protects a structure from lightning
damage by intercepting the strike and transferring the current
harmlessly to the ground. Because lightning tends to strike the
highest object in the vicinity, the area with the highest potential
gradient, the rod is placed at the apex of the structure. It is
then connected to the ground by low-resistance cables.
More than just intercepting lightning strikes the point of the
rod allows for point discharge of built up static electricity
from both the ground and highly charged clouds. During clear weather
electricity flows from the earth into the air by means of point
discharge. During cloudy or stormy weather electricity flows from
the sky into the ground at even greater levels. This is because
the clouds act in decreasing the local value of t.
This fluctuation in the direction of current, which at first
seems to be a drawback in utilizing atmospheric electricity as
an energy source, is not as much of a stumbling block as the unpredictable
levels of energy available. As in the previously cited text from
Benjerman Franklin's biography clearly shows there are varying
amounts of electricity available at anytime. From a trickle during
clear weather to potentially high levels of current during storms.
For atmospheric electricity to be an acceptable energy source
the supply must be reliable. Therefore a direct connection would
be unacceptable. What is needed is a way to put the energy to
use while it is available so that it may be stored for later use.
The easiest way to do this would be through the electrolysis
of water molecules to produce usable, burnable hydrogen. Though
the simplest version of an electrolysis chamber simply consists
of two electrodes placed in a bath of water there are many variables
which can increase production. **
The first of which are the voltage and current levels. For optimum
production the voltage must be between 1.47 and 1.5 volts. This
is a far cry from the thousands of volts produced by atmospheric
current. The current for electrolysis should be maintained at
roughly 1000 Amps per square foot which is also no where near
the amount produced.
However in a step down transformer the thousands of volts produced
could be easily stepped down to 1.5 volts. When the voltage is
stepped down the current is stepped up thereby increasing the
available current. These levels would have to be monitored as
fluctuations would occur necessitating changes in the value of
the transformer. As more current becomes available there would
have to be more square feet of electrodes to which to divert it
so that it is not wasted. Inversely when current levels lag a
reduction in surface area of the electrodes would have to take
place.
Transformers operate only with alternating current and the atmospheric
electricity produced by elevating a conductor is in the form of
direct current. Therefore a conversion must take place by charging
a capacitor and discharging it through the transformer. This creates
a pulsating direct current which the transformer can utilize.
The polarity of the electrodes is also of major importance. As
previously stated the currents direction can shift depending on
the weather and the circuit for utilizing this energy would have
to compensate. Thankfully this task is easily filled using a bridge
rectifier circuit.
One would simply attach a ground contact to one side of the
rectifier circuit and the elevated conductor to the other. This
way the shifts in current polarity would be automatically be directed
towards the proper poles of the capacitors. The diodes in this
circuit would have to able to withstand extremely high voltages.
***
By increasing the height of the elevated conductor one will have
access to a higher potential gradient as well as being able to
take advantage of what is known as the cone of protection. A lightning
rod provides a cone of protection from lightning strikes whose
ground radius approximately equals its height above the ground.
An array of elevated conductors, if spaced at a distance equal
to their height and all discharging to the ground through a single
point will increase available energy.
Previous experiments by other researchers attempting to discharge
atmospheric electricity through multiple points have met with
differing results. This is primarily due to point spacing and
method of discharge. For instance Chiplonkar (1940) found that
the total current through a group of four points was less than
through a single point. This is because the points were very close
together and all connected to separate ground connections, in
effect dividing the available current.
By spacing the elevated conductors at a distance equal to their
height and in a grid pattern you are in effect creating an elevated
plate by utilizing the cone of protection. That combined with
the increased point discharge and the fact that all of the points
discharge through a single circuit will increase results. Remember
Ben Franklin's awesome display? That was created with a single
point elevated only 9 feet above his chimney.
Also of great importance is the ground connection. The idea
that the planets entire surface acts as a plate is valid. However
on a local scale the grounds resistance will effect results. Soil
conductivity must be very high for the best results to occur.
One may even consider seeding the soil with charcoal to increase
conductivity. Another option is planting many grounding rods,
their spacing would be dependent on the soils resistance. Once
again all of the ground rods would be connected through the single
circuit in the same way as the elevated conductors.
The information contained in this paper is the first step on
the road to a revolution in the production of energy on this planet.
Much more research and experimentation will have to be done by
people far more intelligent than your humble author to meet the
energy needs of the world. People will doubt the validity of the
claims put forth in this paper, to them I can only suggest research
and and experimentation with an open mind. This information is
too important to simply discard.
A side note is that atmospheric resistance is greater near ground
due to air density.
** Besides the electrical considerations one must also consider
the electrolyte, temperature (60C-80C) and pressure of the electrolysis
chamber.
*** The opportunity also exists for 'ionic pumps' to replace
the diodes in the bridge rectifier circuit. Simple versions such
as differing metals or point-to-curve engineering may facilitate
the movement of electrons.
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