pure water capacitor?

• To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
• Subject: pure water capacitor?
• From: "Mark Broker" <broker-at-uwplatt.edu> (by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>)
• Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2000 06:42:43 -0700
• Approved: twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net
• Delivered-To: fixup-tesla-at-pupman-dot-com-at-fixme

I'm a very new member to the TC community.  I've been interested in
building one, or two for quite some time, but have never had the
opportunity ($$$, tools, ect) until recently.

I'm a senior majoring in Engineering Phyisics (don't ask....) and am
involved with the SPS (Society of Physics Students).  The SPS occasionally
gives physics demos to local schools.  We have a POS 250kV 1/2 wave TC that
must be 20 years old.  I thought that a nice medium-sized 1/4 TC might make
an excellent "gift" to the SPS as a going-away gift.

I've been trying to do some research regarding design issues, when I came
across a list of dielectrics for some materials for use in capacitors.  The
dielectric constant for pure water is around 85 with an infinite breakdown
voltage!  This means that two 12" x 12" plates spaced 1/8" apart will give
a capacitance of .020uF!  I thought it would be a pretty sweet idea: a pure
water cap in a plexiglass (or lexan (?)) box.  But, I have NEVER seen this
mentioned anywhere I've looked.  The only problem I can see is
contamination: everything has to be 110% clean before adding water.  This
is do-able.

Are there any reasons why I shouldn't try to use this?

For the record, I'm looking at a 15kV/120mA+ NST.

Thanks

Mark

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