clive's mystery object No. 190

[Rangie 10]

So, 1kv up to 3kv, not inductive but with a degree of capacitive coupling, 1/2" or so dia connector with an earth/grounded casing.

 

Is it an evacuated device?

 

In my world that screams GM tube or photomultiplier... :-D

 

Compensating for solar radiation/ionic radiation?

Alec

Edited September 4, 2016 by Rangie

[Gordon_M 14]

De-icing supply of some kind?

[fv1609 21]

So, 1kv up to 3kv, not inductive but with a degree of capacitive coupling, 1/2" or so dia connector with an earth/grounded casing.

 

Is it an evacuated device?

 

In my world that screams GM tube or photomultiplier... :-D

 

Compensating for solar radiation/ionic radiation?

Alec

 

Alec the capacitive coupling is just an inevitability rather than a necessity.

 

Not an evacuated device in fact rather the opposite.

 

Not a radiation issue.

[fv1609 21]

De-icing supply of some kind?

 

Not that Gordon, Wally already suggested it in #77

[Richard Farrant 26]

Cloud charging, to get benefit from the ozone rich atmosphere around 12km up?

[fv1609 21]

Cloud charging, to get benefit from the ozone rich atmosphere around 12km up?

 

Interesting thought Richard, but everyone is thinking of exotic explanations. It is much a more basic problem concerned with flying at this altitude.

[wally dugan 16]

is it to do with the air mixture to the engine attitude

[Lauren Child 12]

Nope Lauren this is to do with problems encountered at heights above 12km

 

Rightho, that's into the stratosphere then. Low air density. Maybe something to do with static buildup from convection around thunderstorms?

[Lauren Child 12]

Interesting thought Richard, but everyone is thinking of exotic explanations. It is much a more basic problem concerned with flying at this altitude.

 

thinking of low density air, maybe some kind of air speed sensor?

[fv1609 21]

Rightho, that's into the stratosphere then. Low air density. Maybe something to do with static buildup from convection around thunderstorms?

 

Good thinking Lauren nothing to do with static but the problem comes from low air density, so the design of this device allows a system to be used that circumvents the problem by doing something in a different way.

[fv1609 21]

is it to do with the air mixture to the engine attitude

 

Sorry missed you there Wally. It is not to do with the engine air mixture itself, but how the air outside the engine causes problems & these devices seek to avoid these problems by doing some else differently.

[Lauren Child 12]

Sorry missed you there Wally. It is not to do with the engine air mixture itself, but how the air outside the engine causes problems & these devices seek to avoid these problems by doing some else differently.

 

Altering the air inlets to compress more air?

 

or

 

Altering the wing shape/angle to provide the same lift in less dense air?

 

Not sure why they'd want such a high voltage to do either though

Edited September 4, 2016 by Lauren Child

[fv1609 21]

Altering the air inlets to compress more air?

 

or

 

Altering the wing shape/angle to provide the same lift in less dense air?

 

Lauren this is how something behaves in less dense air & how it effects propulsion rather than aerodynamics

[fv1609 21]

Not sure why they'd want such a high voltage to do either though

 

In fact this is a lower voltage than one might have expected

[Richard Farrant 26]

to stop the formation of ice crystals?

[wally dugan 16]

beside handling problems is there not something about the centre of gravity at altitude

[fv1609 21]

to stop the formation of ice crystals?

 

Nope not that Richard

[fv1609 21]

beside handling problems is there not something about the centre of gravity at altitude

 

Don't know Wally but this is not related.

[fv1609 21]

OK here's a clue. The items are special & novel way to overcome a problem related to the conductivity of air.

[Lauren Child 12]

OK here's a clue. The items are special & novel way to overcome a problem related to the conductivity of air.

 

Ionising the air?

[fv1609 21]

Ionising the air?

 

A conductivity issue

[Lauren Child 12]

A conductivity issue

 

De-ionising them?

[Rangie 10]

Or the opposite, a probe to make the aircraft or device aboard the aircraft at the same potential as the ionosphere....?

 

Alec

[fv1609 21]

De-ionising them?

 

No I meant that ionising leads to conductivity that causes the problem.

[fv1609 21]

Or the opposite, a probe to make the aircraft or device aboard the aircraft at the same potential as the ionosphere....?

 

Alec

 

Alec not that sort of issue.