Shop Menu

Home

Login

Cyber Circuits

Science Lab

Surplus Items

Custom Electronics & Software

Educational Resources

Other Services

Sponsored Links

The diagram below shows a EHDT in its most basic form. It consists of a fine wire, suspended above a sheet of Aluminium foil, by a lightweight insulating support such as balsa wood. If a high voltage DC source is connected as shown, a thrust will be produced, propelling the device in the direction of the positive wire. This thrust is due the motion of air, or any other dielectric (insulating) fluid around the device, as described below.

In their mad rush from the ion emitter to the smooth negative electrode, the positive ions bump into neutral air molecules-air particles without electric charge. The force exerted on them by the electric field is offset by the force of friction caused by collisions of the ions with the neutral air molecules. As a result, ions drift through the air gap with an approximately constant velocity V_d, that is proportional to the electric field given by V_d=kE, where the proportionality constant K is called the ion mobility, the highest the value the more mobile (faster) and the less friction is offered.

EHDT Construction Details

Gently fold over the top a long edge so you are left with a long rounded edge, and a long sharp edge opposite. The rounded edge will be closest to the corona wire.

Fold the strip into three equal sections, plus a little extra for sticking the ends together.

Using a small amount of glue, attach three lightweight balsa wood supports, and stick the two short edges of the foil together to form a triangle.

Loop a thin wire around the supports so that it is a few centimeters from the foil, and leave a long wire for connection to the power supply.

Connect another long wire to the foil, in a position away from the other trailing wire.

Flying the Lifter

The voltage required to power the lifter will depend upon its size but it is usually above 10kV. By moving the top corona wire closer to the foil, more thrust can be produced. If it is too close arcs will jump between the electrodes, causing it not to fly.

Place the thruster on an insulating surface (a table), and away from any metal objects.

Attach the two wires to the table so that the thruster can hover, whilst being held down by the wires.

Making a HV DC power supply for the lifter

For a tiny Lifter the output of a plasma globe PSU and a HV diode can be used, but for a larger device a larger transformer may be needed.

The picture on the left is of the inside of the plasma globe, and you can make the output of this DC by connecting it to a HV diode.

For larger lifters, a simple adjustable supply can be made by driving an high voltage coil with a power pulse modulator and then rectifying the output with a high voltage diode and capacitor as shown here. The diode D1 should be rated for high voltage such as 20kV, 100mA as to withstand current pulses from accidental shorts. The capacitor C1 should also be rated for 20kV. The capacitor is not essential but it can help improve performance and add some protection for the diode. The capacitance can be any value, but biger is better.

The pulse modulator allows you to vary the output voltage very easily so that you can get more control over the performance of the lifter.

Science Menu

Research Projects

DIY Projects & Experiments

Cybernetics & Virtual Worlds

High Voltage

Propulsion Systems

Physics & Formula

Sponsored Links

Questions and Comments on the DIY ElectroHydroDynamic Thruster

zoom zoom	Friday, 26th May 2006 10:18am - No.73
did anybody ever establish the efficiency of the motor?
RMCybernetics	Sunday, 28th May 2006 7:29pm - No.77
There is more information available at the link below. ElectroHydroDynamic Propulsion
Alex McCown	Saturday, 14th July 2007 3:14pm - No.1443
the output of that kind of flyback is dc already only the disk shaped ones are ac
RMCybernetics	Sunday, 15th July 2007 1:37pm - No.1446
Alex McCown, that is not correct. The output from the transformer in a plasma globe is high frequency AC. The transformers in CRT screens give a DC output because they usually have a built in voltage doubler.
Jonathan Yu.	Wednesday, 18th July 2007 10:24pm - No.1464
Your propulsion systems would work as an alternative for today's vehicles. With fuel prices on the rise, EHD can change the way we use vehicle propulsion. Your materials are even easy to construct. If your propulsion systems were used more, we would save a lot of money.
Aaron	Wednesday, 8th August 2007 9:25pm - No.1554
Hey firstly thanks for the great website. Could you give me some dimensions, my transformer is a 10kv 25-30mA or alternately i have a flyback, which would you reconmend. Have they ever tried to use a small tesla coil as power source or would this just be over kill.
RMCybernetics	Wednesday, 8th August 2007 10:06pm - No.1555
Just start with something small like 70mm wide by 40mm high for each foil side. The output of the transformer used needs to be rectified (converted to DC) using high voltage diodes. This is simple for normal transformers but this would not work for a Tesla coil because of the high frequency and voltage.
der strom	Sunday, 21st October 2007 12:07am - No.1997
would it be possible to power an EHD thruster using the rectified output of an ignition coil? Or does the power have to be doubled or tripled?
RMCybernetics	Sunday, 21st October 2007 2:10am - No.2000
The rectified output of an ignition coil will be enough for a small lightweight EHDT.
Cody	Friday, 30th November 2007 3:11am - No.2274
what will happen if you use a regular (1000v) diode? ex. 1n4007
RMCybernetics	Friday, 30th November 2007 9:36am - No.2279
It would be destroyed
der strom	Friday, 30th November 2007 4:17pm - No.2281
I found a flyback transformer in an old, color TV. It has a tripler built into it already, but the wires of the tripler are just sticking out. would the high voltage from the large red wire be DC already, or would the other wires coming out of the tripler have to be attached to something? thank you very much.
RMCybernetics	Saturday, 1st December 2007 11:45pm - No.2284
The large red wire is usually used to supply DC to the front of the CRT screen. I would assume the tripler part is a separate circuit to this.
der strom	Wednesday, 5th December 2007 6:32pm - No.2290
ok. so the current is already DC, but I still need a high voltage diode at the end of the red wire, right?
RMCybernetics	Wednesday, 5th December 2007 6:35pm - No.2292
No, The diodes are built into the device.
der strom	Wednesday, 5th December 2007 11:53pm - No.2296
Oh. well, that makes it easier. thanks!
der strom	Thursday, 3rd January 2008 4:37pm - No.2387
I am trying to build the flyback driver shown below, but I don't think the feedback coil is working. One of the times I hitched up the battery, I got one spark, but it didn't keep going. Do you have any ideas of what is wrong with the feedback coil? thanks!
RMCybernetics	Friday, 4th January 2008 3:16am - No.2393
I couldn't say
der strom	Wednesday, 9th January 2008 12:43am - No.2421
I found a flyback transformer in an old computer, but I can't find the input wires or pins. Do you think you could tell me where I can find them? Something else that might help is that I know I found it on your site somewhere, but I'm not sure where. Thanks!!
der strom	Wednesday, 9th January 2008 12:49am - No.2422
I found a pickture of a transformer much like mine. Here it is (hopefully this picture comes out right):
der strom	Wednesday, 9th January 2008 4:12pm - No.2423
sorry. didn't work. here:
RMCybernetics	Wednesday, 9th January 2008 4:21pm - No.2424
The pins are normally in a semicircle on the underside so they would normally fin to a PCB. Pictures must be JPEGS ONLY 200kb MAXIMUM FILE SIZE. Meet this spec or it will not accept your image
der strom	Wednesday, 9th January 2008 4:39pm - No.2426
Oh. I apoligize. But where does the power go in?
RMCybernetics	Wednesday, 9th January 2008 6:30pm - No.2427
Into those pins. You will have to determine which two input pins work best yourself.
slimy	Friday, 7th March 2008 7:05pm - No.2589
wud it work to put a bunch of ur 8kv diodes that r in ur shop in series or in parralel 2 charge a 30kv capasitor?
RMCybernetics	Friday, 7th March 2008 10:12pm - No.2590
Yes, It is better to also place a 10M resistor in parallel with each diode too if make a diode string.
445557/sp	Sunday, 9th March 2008 9:08pm - No.2598
is it possalbe to power one with a van de grff and if it is how much power can you put in a ehd truster.will it generat more turst with more volts (and i mean more volts like 5 million volts)and more watts.
RMCybernetics	Monday, 10th March 2008 11:14am - No.2600
A VDG does not provide enough current to power an EHDT. More current or voltage makes more thrust upt to certain limits. Too much and energy is just wasted. Attatching multiple units together is an effective way.
slimy	Monday, 10th March 2008 12:30pm - No.2604
Thanks, RM. By the way, gr8 site!
405557/sp	Monday, 10th March 2008 10:07pm - No.2605
well could an Wimshurst machine power an EHD machine.it creats HV and if spun fast enough it can creat high curent.and thier most be some more ways to desine an EHD to creat more power and to be more effient than the cunfiguation that u have up thier. and if an Wimshurst machine cant power it than wut else can power on of this other than wut u have posted.
RMCybernetics	Tuesday, 11th March 2008 12:59am - No.2607
No. Electrostatic generators do not generate enough current for an EHDT. There are many different ways to make and power a thruster. Google the term 'lifter' to find many examples.
405557/sp	Tuesday, 11th March 2008 1:04am - No.2608
does it have to use aluminum couldnt somthing else work better like copper. copper is a much better conducter
RMCybernetics	Tuesday, 11th March 2008 1:08am - No.2609
The resistance of the material is not significant. Aluminum is used because it is relatively lightweight.
405557/sp	Tuesday, 11th March 2008 7:28pm - No.2615
so would it be possable to hock up a stun gun to one im asking because i whant to have a light waight power source.and by the way you have a great website
RMCybernetics	Wednesday, 12th March 2008 12:47pm - No.2621
No, a stun gun is a low current source of AC pulses. I know of noone building a lifter that also lifts its own power supply so far. Some people have augmented them using helium filled ballons to counteract the weight of the PSU. The most lightweigt PSU I have used was made by removing the globe from a plasma globe and placing a HV diode or rectifier arrangement on the output so that it gives about 15kV DC (depending on size of original plasma globe). This will only give enough current to fly the tinyest of EHDT like shown in the video.
405557/sp	Wednesday, 12th March 2008 6:28pm - No.2623
ok thanks for answering my questions. i now got some money t spend and gonna tinker with some of this stuff ill share iny thing new with you. i dont know how i found this site but im happy i did this is a great site
physist	Wednesday, 26th March 2008 11:43am - No.2649
Hey im currently buideing quite a descent power supply at ruffly 50kv DC but quite low ampige since i am going from mains is that anoth to power a descent sized one and if not could u sugest a power supply design that would give alot more power i was thinking of makeing a much larger one useing 3 of them attached to gether and my final question is there a formula u could give me to find the thrust of givin size voltage and current. thanks
RMCybernetics	Wednesday, 26th March 2008 1:51pm - No.2652
The mains will provide way more than enough power for lifter experiments unless you are planning to lift something like a car! The simplest way is to use a voltage multiplier to step up the mains. Formula available here
Graymalkin	Sunday, 4th May 2008 11:50am - No.2745
How do I use a power supply, as this is a learning curve for me. I get the use of a plasma ball cpu, but mine is only 15 volts! Will this be enough? Thanks
RMCybernetics	Sunday, 4th May 2008 8:41pm - No.2746
The plasma ball PSU steps its input voltage (12V) up to thousands of volts. You need thousands of volts DC for an EHD lifter to work
Ernesto Dizon	Saturday, 6th September 2008 4:58am - No.3080
no matter what new energy form comes, or some new inventions;goverment would not honor it,because if these something for nothing motors,comes out;the goverment will lose billions upon billions of oil dollars,and so is the international goverments,OIL ;IS THE ALMIGHTY GOD OF DOLLARS!Australia has an invention:no gas or batteries,so is Japan,United States,england,all have,inventions that needs no batteries or gas,the CULPRIT IS GOVERMENT.LET THE WORLD HAVE THIS NEW ENERGY ALIENBLUESTAR
Santa	Thursday, 30th October 2008 11:00pm - No.3256
Ernesto Dizon What energy it that then? Oh yeah, rubber bands!!..
Aurora	Tuesday, 24th March 2009 8:40pm - No.3717
Is there not a way to use this system on a plane? It seems as though it would be cheap and easy to manage. Of course, it would have to be far larger than this.
DC	Monday, 30th March 2009 5:59pm - No.3723
We built our own large EHD thruster and it could lift its own power supply and another 87KG have you any tips on how to make the thruster more effective so it can lift more weight?
RMCybernetics	Saturday, 4th April 2009 11:34am - No.3740
Not sure I believe that. Please post some pictures or video.
NANDA	Wednesday, 6th January 2010 3:52pm - No.4173
How do we connect the other long wire to the aluminium foil?
RMCybernetics	Wednesday, 6th January 2010 8:36pm - No.4175
You need to use very thin wire and just attach with a small amount of tape.

High Power Pulse Width Modulated Signal Generators

Electrodes for Hydrogen and Oxygen production

Variable Frequency PWM Circuits

Aura Photo Electrodes

© 2010 All Rights Reserved

About Us | Terms of Use | Services