The Tesla Coil
At its core, the Tesla Coil is an electrically resonant system capable of generating extremely high voltages. Originally developed by Nikola Tesla in a failed effort to build a wireless power distribution network, the Tesla Coil now primarily serves as an object of entertainment and education. It can dazzle audiences with spectacular displays of plasma, play music, and wirelessly turn on fluorescent lights from many feet away.
How it Works
As with many naturally occurring resonant systems, the Tesla Coil is built from multiple energy storage elements that pass energy between themselves in a cyclical manner. It is analogous to more familiar mechanically resonant systems such as a pendulum or bell.
To illustrate, imagine a pendulum swinging back and forth. At the pendulum’s highest point, its gravitational potential energy is at its peak and the kinetic energy is zero. The pendulum’s potential energy is then gradually converted into kinetic energy as it swings to its lowest position. As it swings past this point, the process is reversed, converting kinetic energy back into gravitational potential until it halts at the top of the path. The whole motion is repeated, forming a cycle of motion and energy transfer. And if one would like to raise the maximum height or speed of the pendulum, a push at the right moment can add energy to the system causing the desired effect.
Where a pendulum passes energy between momentum and gravitational potential, a Tesla Coil passes energy between a magnetic field and an electric field. The tall coil forms a large inductor that produces a strong magnetic field when a current passes through it, and the torus on top is a conductive surface that forms a capacitor with the ground, producing an electric field as charge is deposited on it. The inductor’s current deposits charges on the torus, transferring energy from the magnetic field to the electric field. Once that transfer is complete, the process is reversed by the deposited charges attempting to return to ground potential through the inductor. Their flow causes a magnetic field to form in the inductor in the opposite direction until there is no net charge on the torus. The magnetic field then continues to pump electric charges out of the torus, causing an electric field in the opposite direction to build while again depleting the magnetic field, This process is repeated in a cyclical manner, only diminishing from resistive losses. Like with the pendulum, energy can be added to the system each cycle with a synchronized “push” in the form of an alternating voltage source until finally the electric field becomes so strong it rips the electrons from air molecules in a brilliant flash of plasma.
System Architecture
Modern “solid-state” Tesla Coils are typically built from two magnetically coupled resonant circuits and driven by a power electronic converter called a voltage-source inverter. The two resonant circuits each have a coil to store magnetic energy and a capacitance to store electric energy. But while the circuit featuring the flat coil uses a capacitor bank to store electric energy, the other, larger coil uses its torus and the ground to store electric energy. The two coils are then configured so they share a central axis, and by extension, magnetic fields. This allows for energy to be magnetically transferred from one circuit to the other, forming a power transformer. The inverter applies an alternating voltage at the system’s resonant frequency to the “primary” circuit (the flat spiral coil), which in turn produces a voltage in the “secondary” circuit (the tall coil) because of their magnetic coupling. Each cycle, the voltage source pumps more energy into the system causing the currents and voltages in each element to grow until finally the voltage at the torus breaks down the air in a brilliant flash.
How it Produces Music
There are at least two methods by which a Tesla Coil can reproduce sound. The most straightforward method is to take advantage of the “pop” produced when an arc initially streaks through the air. This sound can be repeated to produce a buzzing sound and at a high enough repetition rate (or frequency) human ears begin to perceive this as a crude tone. Thus, by simply repeatedly enabling and disabling the entire system, a tone can be produced.
The other method is to allow a continuous stream of plasma to flow from the torus and slightly modulate its current by modulating the driving voltage source. This is an example of amplitude modulation that is achieved through pulse-width modulation. While it is conceptually much more complicated, it reproduces sound in a way that is comparable to a low quality speaker.
As an Exhibit
There are several different demonstrations that can be performed with a Tesla Coil, all relying on a wide variety of phenomena and engineered subsystems that provide a rich environment for educational opportunities. The most notable phenomenon is its ability to produce modulated plasma which allows any instrument with an audio or MIDI output to control the system. Users are then free to play their favorite song or experiment with the different sounds and appearances. Aside from plasma, the coil can produce corona discharge at lower voltages as well as turn on unconnected fluorescent lights that are placed within its electric field. Coupling the coil with an oscilloscope to monitor the modulation scheme, coil voltage and current, as well as with other interactive mechanically resonant systems can allow for ample opportunity to interact with, observe, and learn from the Tesla Coil. There is plenty to learn and experiment with for the young scientist up to the practicing engineer, including:
Resonance
Sound
Energy
EM Fields
Circuit Elements
Plasma and Corona
Electronic Control
Signal Modulation
Power Electronics
Safety
Tesla Coils pose several risks to observers and nearby electronics that can all be mitigated through relatively simple means. First is the Tesla Coil itself, which intentionally produces high voltages on several exposed conductive surfaces. The electric field between those surfaces can interfere with electronics and induce currents in nearby conductive objects. It can also arc to close enough objects or observers, causing damage or burns. The easiest way to mitigate this is to place the coil a safe distance from any potential risks either through the use of barriers or by elevating the coil on a platform. Another technique is to place the coil within a grounded conductive cage, containing the electric field within the cage and preventing observers from getting too close.
Another risk is posed by the driving electronics. While it is no more dangerous than any other power supply or appliance running on a standard wall outlet, care must be taken to restrict access with a good enclosure and to ensure it is properly grounded to prevent electrical shock.
And finally, there are electrical components within the system which have the potential for failure, posing a mild fire hazard, namely the switching transistors and the capacitors in the inverter and primary circuit. Good electrical and thermal design can ensure a long life and safe operation for these components, and safe packaging and well designed protection can limit their failure to a barely noticeable event.
What We Offer
SemiAxis is a small electronics and embedded systems consulting firm capable of developing a wide variety of electronic systems. Tesla Coils are among our favorite projects to work on and we are happy to design and assemble a custom Tesla Coil of any size to fill the needs of your exhibit. We also offer a standard Tesla Coil starting at $7,500, which is capable of playing music through brilliant arcs up to 12″. Our typical system includes the coils, driving electronics, E-stop box, and remote controller with MIDI and analog inputs. A cage and instruments, such as our digital Theremin, can be added. Our Tesla Coils are assembled in our shop, tested for several hours before shipping, and require little assembly out of the box, insuring that the system runs reliably. We also offer delivery, on-site assembly, and training. SemiAxis will replace any parts damaged through operation during the first year of use, and we offer excellent customer support to help get our systems running and staying operational.
If you are interested in purchasing a Telsa Coil or would like to inquire about a custom built system, feel free to contact us.