3 ms·

Wow, okay - that explains why we're not doing this already! I'm curious as to why this logic doesn't apply to the electrostatic precipitator. Or maybe it does

by ajb 6y ago

Wow, okay - that explains why we're not doing this already! I'm curious as to why this logic doesn't apply to the electrostatic precipitator. Or maybe it does and we just have too much capacitance? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrostatic_precipitator https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrostatic_precipitator ETA: the EP causes Corona discharge, which doesn't sound like it would be too pleasant if you were the electrode.

saalweachter 6y ago
Using the size of aerosolized droplets (0.35-10um) and the mass of human skin (20 lbs) would knock two orders of magnitude off, and drop the floor estimate to 50 megavolts.
- Balgair 6y ago
  For anyone wondering what a 50MV source looks like, one was actually built out in the desert near Joshua Tree in '54. Strangely, it was built for longevity research. Well, that and UFOs and anti-gravity, because of course: "The Multiple Wave Oscillator is a combination of a high voltage Tesla coil and a split-ring resonator that generates ultra wideband electromagnetic frequencies." The ionization of the air in the main room was quite intense, with plasma freely forming coronas. Once the pandemic is over, you can drive out to get a 'sound bath' in the room, if you are so inclined. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integratron https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integratron
saalweachter 6y ago
Re: capacitance, our capacitance is too low. The higher the capacitance the lower the voltage. A 1 farad capacitor could hold 1 coulomb of charge at 1 volt of potential difference. A 0.1 farad capacitor could hold 0.1 coulomb of charge at 1 volt, or 1 coulomb of charge at 10 volts, or 0.01 coulombs of charge at 0.1 volts, or 100 coulombs of charge at 1000 volts.[0]. Because our capacitance is so low, you need a huge amount of voltage to force all of those electrons onto us. [0] Assuming the capacitor didn't fail -- in the case of actual capacitors, they only operate within certain parameters and tend to explode outside of them, in the case of people in an atmosphere, you'd probably see those discharges well before you managed to shove a full coulomb of charge onto one.

by ajb 6y ago

saalweachter 6y ago

Using the size of aerosolized droplets (0.35-10um) and the mass of human skin (20 lbs) would knock two orders of magnitude off, and drop the floor estimate to 50 megavolts.

Balgair 6y ago
For anyone wondering what a 50MV source looks like, one was actually built out in the desert near Joshua Tree in '54. Strangely, it was built for longevity research. Well, that and UFOs and anti-gravity, because of course: "The Multiple Wave Oscillator is a combination of a high voltage Tesla coil and a split-ring resonator that generates ultra wideband electromagnetic frequencies." The ionization of the air in the main room was quite intense, with plasma freely forming coronas. Once the pandemic is over, you can drive out to get a 'sound bath' in the room, if you are so inclined. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integratron https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integratron

saalweachter 6y ago

Re: capacitance, our capacitance is too low. The higher the capacitance the lower the voltage. A 1 farad capacitor could hold 1 coulomb of charge at 1 volt of potential difference. A 0.1 farad capacitor could hold 0.1 coulomb of charge at 1 volt, or 1 coulomb of charge at 10 volts, or 0.01 coulombs of charge at 0.1 volts, or 100 coulombs of charge at 1000 volts.[0]. Because our capacitance is so low, you need a huge amount of voltage to force all of those electrons onto us. [0] Assuming the capacitor didn't fail -- in the case of actual capacitors, they only operate within certain parameters and tend to explode outside of them, in the case of people in an atmosphere, you'd probably see those discharges well before you managed to shove a full coulomb of charge onto one.