GENERATING POWER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23796, 1 May 1939, Page 10

GENERATING POWER

NEW METHOD DISCOVERED USE OF POWDERED SILICA (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, Apl. 29. (Received Apl. 30, at 6.30 p.m.) A new discovery in methods of generating electricity has been placed before the Physical Society in London with the object of suggesting further research. The discovery has been made by Sir Ambrose Fleming, whose new method consists of allowing powdered silica to fall through a tube on to a perforated zinc plate, this action creating positive electricity. This current is then transferred to a condenser consisting of two metal plates with a thin layer of ebonite between them. Sir Ambrose Fleming told the society that if these plates are separated their capacity is reduced and the potential correspondingly raised. They could thus obtain electricity at very high potentials, or many thousands of volts. To prevent waste of powder and allow it to be used again and again he devised an instrument similar to an hour glass. Having allowed the silica to fall in one direction, the instrument was reversed and the process repeated. By duplicating hourglass instruments and creating four spokes of a wheel, it was possible to rotate them and thus obtain a continuous supply of electricity at high potentials.