In September 1752 Benjamin Franklin erected an iron rod on top of his house for experimenting with lightning. A wire stretched from the iron rod down into the house and out again where he attached it to his well pump. The middle of the wire was split and bells were attached to either end. A single silk thread was suspended between them from which a ball hung. The two Bells would ring to give notice when the rod became electrified. In his own words, Ben Franklin says,

…I was one night awaked by loud cracks on the staircase. Starting up and opening the door, I perceived that the brass ball, instead of vibrating as usual between the bells, was repelled and kept at a distance from both; while the fire passed, sometimes in very large, quick cracks from bell to bell, and sometimes in a continued, dense, white stream, seemingly as large as my finger, whereby the whole staircase was inlightened (sic) as with sunshine…

If a simple arrangement of equipment can produce such spectacular displays of atmospheric electricity then the question is, why aren’t we utilizing this electricity instead of relying solely on fossil fuels? In some limited way, I hope that the suggestions to follow start us on the path towards utilizing atmospheric electricity as a renewable, non-polluting energy source.

Most people are unaware of the constant flow of electricity between the earth and sky, and those that are aware claim that the amount of energy is so minute as to be useless. They (who?) point to experiments like those performed by B.F.J. Schonland in South Africa (1927) where he insulated a tree from the ground and connected it to the earth through a galvanometer to measure the amount of electricity flowing through it. His experiment, however, was not aimed at generating high levels of electricity. Its goal was to measure the amount of electricity flowing through a notoriously poor conductor.

Atmospheric electricity exists because of the earth and ionosphere form the plates of a giant capacitor. The ionosphere, which is a layer of ionized air more than 80 km above the earth’s surface, is created by the sun’s energy. The light from the sun is so strong that it breaks apart molecules and atoms of air, leaving ions (atoms with missing electrons) and free-floating electrons. It is my belief that the Earth also generates its own source of current through various means, i.e. The compression of crystalline molecules of silicon dioxide.

Both of these ‘plates’ are constantly charging and discharging their ions throughout the atmosphere. The atmosphere itself acts as an insulator or dielectric and at certain points may break down for a more visual display of atmospheric current in the form of lightning.

In any capacitor, its value is judged by a formula, C=.2248 KA/t, and the Earth/ionosphere capacitor is no exception.

In the formula K = the dielectric constant, this is the material between the two plates that keeps them from discharging, in the case of the earth the dielectric is air which has a value of 1. A = The area of the plates in square inches, the plates being the earth and the ionosphere. And t = the thickness of the dielectric in inches. This is the distance between the earth’s surface and the ionosphere.

We can increase the value of any capacitor by increasing the value of K or A. Meaning, increase the dielectric constant to make it more difficult for the capacitor to discharge between the two plates allowing more of a charge to build up, or increasing the area of the plate so that it can hold more of a charge. Neither of these options is very realistic when dealing with either the dielectric constant of the air or the area of the surface of the planet.

However, there is another avenue for increasing the value of a capacitor, decreasing the value of t. Altering the thickness of the dielectric, or in this case, decreasing it can be done by raising the surface of the earth. This can be done by elevating any object electrically connected to the earth. For centuries people have observed strange glowing sometimes occurring around the tops of mountains. This is simply corona created by the discharge of electricity due in part to the height of the mountain. Though a mountain is not a good conductor of electricity its height has significantly decreased the value of t.

Near the surface the potential gradient is about 150 volts per meter. This means for every meter that you go up from the surface you pick up an extra 150 volts of potential atmospheric energy. For example 5 meters = 750 volts. The potential gradient is intensified around the tip of the elevated conductor much like a pole pushed under a tarp. The shorter the pole supporting the tarp the less weight of the tarp’s canvas it has to support, or the less it raises the surface potential.

An example of potential gradient can also be found in another of Mr. Franklin’s inventions, the lightning rod. A lightning rod is simply a copper rod that protects a structure from lightning damage by intercepting the strike and transferring the current harmlessly to the ground. Because lightning tends to strike the highest object in the vicinity, the area with the highest potential gradient, the rod is placed at the apex of the structure. It is then connected to the ground by low-resistance cables.

More than just intercepting lightning strikes the point of the rod allows for point discharge of built-up static electricity from both the ground and highly charged clouds. During clear weather, electricity flows from the earth into the air by means of point discharge. During cloudy or stormy weather electricity flows from the sky into the ground at even greater levels. This is because the clouds act in decreasing the local value of t.

This fluctuation in the direction of the current, which at first seems to be a drawback in utilizing atmospheric electricity as an energy source, is not as much of a stumbling block as the unpredictable levels of energy available. As in the previously cited text from Benjamin Franklin’s biography clearly shows there are varying amounts of electricity available at any time. From a trickle during clear weather to potentially high levels of current during storms.

For atmospheric electricity to be an acceptable energy source the supply must be reliable. Therefore a direct connection would be unacceptable. What is needed is a way to put the energy to use while it is available so that it may be stored for later use.

The easiest way to do this would be through the electrolysis of water molecules to produce usable, burnable hydrogen. Though the simplest version of an electrolysis chamber simply consists of two electrodes placed in a bath of water there are many variables which can increase production. **

The first of which are the voltage and current levels. For optimum production, the voltage must be between 1.47 and 1.5 volts. This is a far cry from the thousands of volts produced by atmospheric current. The current for electrolysis should be maintained at roughly 1000 Amps per square foot which is also nowhere near the amount produced.

However, in a step-down transformer the thousands of volts produced could be easily stepped down to 1.5 volts. When the voltage is stepped down the current is stepped up thereby increasing the available current. These levels would have to be monitored as fluctuations would occur necessitating changes in the value of the transformer. As more current becomes available there would have to be more square feet of electrodes to which to divert it so that it is not wasted. Inversely when current levels lag a reduction in surface area of the electrodes would have to take place.

Transformers operate only with alternating current and the atmospheric electricity produced by elevating a conductor is in the form of direct current. Therefore a conversion must take place by charging a capacitor and discharging it through the transformer. This creates a pulsating direct current which the transformer can utilize.

The polarity of the electrodes is also of major importance. As previously stated the direction of the current can shift depending on the weather and the circuit for utilizing this energy would have to compensate. Thankfully this task is easily filled using a bridge rectifier circuit.

One would simply attach a ground contact to one side of the rectifier circuit and the elevated conductor to the other. This way the shifts in current polarity would be automatically be directed towards the proper poles of the capacitors. The diodes in this circuit would have to able to withstand extremely high voltages. ***

By increasing the height of the elevated conductor one will have access to a higher potential gradient as well as being able to take advantage of what is known as the cone of protection. A lightning rod provides a cone of protection from lightning strikes whose ground radius approximately equals its height above the ground. An array of elevated conductors, if spaced at a distance equal to their height and all discharging to the ground through a single point will increase available energy.

Previous experiments by other researchers attempting to discharge atmospheric electricity through multiple points have met with differing results. This is primarily due to point spacing and method of discharge. For instance, Chiplonkar (1940) found that the total current through a group of four points was less than through a single point. This is because the points were very close together and all connected to separate ground connections, in effect dividing the available current.

By spacing the elevated conductors at a distance equal to their height and in a grid pattern you are in effect creating an elevated plate by utilizing the cone of protection. That combined with the increased point discharge and the fact that all of the points discharge through a single circuit will increase results. Remember Ben Franklin’s awesome display? That was created with a single point elevated only 9 feet above his chimney.

Also of great importance is the ground connection. The idea that the planets entire surface acts as a plate is valid. However, on a local scale, the ground’s resistance will affect results. Soil conductivity must be very high for the best results to occur. One may even consider seeding the soil with charcoal to increase conductivity. Another option is planting many grounding rods, their spacing would be dependent on the soil’s resistance. Once again all of the ground rods would be connected through the single circuit in the same way as the elevated conductors.

The information contained in this paper is the first step on the road to a revolution in the production of energy on this planet. Much more research and experimentation will have to be done by people far more intelligent than your humble author to meet the energy needs of the world. People will doubt the validity of the claims put forth in this paper, to them I can only suggest research and experimentation with an open mind. This information is too important to simply discard.

A side note is that atmospheric resistance is greater near the ground due to air density.

** Besides the electrical considerations one must also consider the electrolyte, temperature (60C-80C) and pressure of the electrolysis chamber.

*** The opportunity also exists for ‘ionic pumps’ to replace the diodes in the bridge rectifier circuit. Simple versions such as differing metals or point-to-curve engineering may facilitate the movement of electrons.