Generator Blog

A vaneless ion wind generator is a device that produces electricity directly by using the wind to pump an electrical charge from one electrode to another. It is a type of wind power, although wind energy is usually extracted to make electricity by means of a wind turbine.

Electrostatic wind generators work by spraying water from a nozzle facing a toroidal charged electrode. This induces an opposite charge in the water and when the water flows out of the nozzle, each drop carries a small amount of charge. These water droplets are then blown by the wind, going through the center of the charged toroid without touching it. The droplets then hit a fine mesh, adding to its charge. The other alternative is to use the Earth as the second electrode. The main advantage of this system is that it has no moving parts except the water droplets. The disadvantages are that it needs a constant supply of water, its wind profile can’t be reduced, it requires many small parts, and it has to be well-crafted to reduce corona discharge losses.