Harmonic Effects in Electrostatic Induction Motors

Abstract

Electrostatic Induction motors are closely connected in theory to the familiar Tesla induction machine. In practice, designs are constrained by dielectric breakdown. Stator and rotor electrodes must be positioned to avoid breakdown rather than to provide sinusoidal distributions. The result is that Space and time harmonics are important in electrostatic machines. A cylindrical and in experimental electrostatic Induction motor is described. The electric field the air gap is used to compute theoretical torque, which is less than 4 mN · m under most conditions. Experimental operation with balanced three-phase excitation and bearing friction as the only load agrees with the theory more closely than in previous work.