Influence of Working Medium Temperature on the Electrification of the Kelvin Water-Drop Generator

Kelvin water-drop generator (KWDG) is a device for generating static electricity through the process of water drop, and it can generate high voltage without an additional power supply, which is widely used in the electrostatic field. This electrification process is complex and difficult to explain, and it depends on the properties of the working medium, especially the working medium temperature. The temperature of the working medium, as a key factor, has an impact on the thermal motion of the ions, thereby influencing the electrification process. In this paper, the influence of working medium temperature on the KWDG is explored, and the open-circuit voltage and accumulated charge of the KWDG are tested experimentally. In addition, our study reveals that the flow rate and ion concentration of the working medium affect the electrification process. The measurement results show that a lower working medium temperature can obtain more accumulated charge. According to the experimental data, the maximum charge that KWDG can accumulate is 6.44 nC. The experimental results further confirm the friction on a fluid-solid surface and ions in liquids involved in the electrification process. This study deepens the understanding of the temperature effect on the output performance of KWDG.