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Re: NASA's Tethered Generator

Subject:  Re: NASA's Tethered Generator
  Date:   Wed, 14 May 1997 05:18:08 +0000
  From:  "John H. Couture" <couturejh-at-worldnet.att-dot-net>
    To:  Tesla List <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>


At 05:35 AM 5/13/97 +0000, you wrote:
>Subject: Re: NASA's Tethered Generator
>  Date: Mon, 12 May 1997 13:35:48 -0500
>  From: David Huffman <huffman-at-FNAL.GOV>
>    To: Tesla List <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
>
>
>Ok if B=0.2Gauss, L=20.7km and v=12,000 m/s
>emf = BLv = 4997 volts.
>One end is 'grounded' in the ionosphere the other flows current with
>electron accelerators.
>The loop is the Earth and the universe.
>D.L.Huffman
>
------------------------------------------------------------

  Dave -
  
  Using your figures I get 49,680 volts. Applying this equation is not
that
simple. The actual calculations are complex. The NASA tether actually
did
generate about 2500 volts at .5 amps or 1250 watts in one of several
experiments. There were also failures but we should not dwell on these
problems. 

  Note that in space nothing is grounded where grounding means at earth
potential. Also the tether circuit loop is not earth and the universe.
The
tether circuit loop consists of a long very special wire which is the
voltage generator plus devices at each end to utilize the ionosphere as
a
return conductor for the currents.

  The universe of space is not involved with the tether circuit because
the
currents created cannot travel in the vacuum of space beyond the
ionosphere.
This is one of the big differences between Tesla coils (currents) and
arc
transmitters radiation (Hertzian waves). Hertzian waves can travel thru
both
the ionosphere and the vacuum of space. It is important for coilers to
understand the differences between Tesla coils and radio transmitters
and
these two very different methods of transmitting electrical energy.

  Tesla coils can also be used in the vacuum of space because they can
produce Coulomb forces. These forces can be used to maneuver vehicles in
space but this is another story. There are plenty of TC possibilities
for
Tesla List members to work on for the future besides big sparks.

  John Couture

-----------------------------------------------------------------

>snip
>
>> you
>> should take a wire connected to a meter and move it thru a magnetic
>> field.
>> You will induce an emf according to the equation
>> 
>>                      emf = BLv      
>> 
>> where emf is the electromagnetic force, B is the magnetic force, L
>the
>> length of wire, and v the velocity of the wire thru the field. This
>is
>> what
>> the shuttle tether is doing. The return conductor is the
>ionosphere.
>> 
>>   John Couture
>>
>
>