1

Research Paper on Tesla Coil

Student ID:

University Affiliation:

Professor:

Date of Submission:
 2

Tesla Coil

Introduction

High voltage production was the main idea from Nikola Tesla to design such a resonant

transformer circuit. The Tesla coil ideas came into existence in 1891; apart from generating

massive electrical energy, little current, and increased occurrence, alternating electricity was

another factor. Before reaching this extent, it took time to experiment with other configurations

and resonant electric circuits to ensure that it works perfectly (Surwade et al., 2017). On the

other hand, Tesla experimented with this idea in several electrical devices and noted it works

without wires. One of the devices noted is x-ray generation, electrical lighting, and also

electrotherapy. As years passed, it is essential was visible in spark-gap radio transmitters in the

year 1920.

Tesla Coil

Talking more about the idea from Tesla to generate a coil that produces higher voltages,

it is evident it has a radio frequency oscillator. It can drive an air-core double tweaked resonant

transformer which is a source for higher voltage generations. The modern and original circuits of

Tesla both use simple spark gaps to create a tuned transformer motion (Surwade et al., 2017).

Another use is in a vacuum tube that oscillates motion in the resonant transformer. Tesla could

generate an output starting from 50KV to millions of volts applicable in large coils. However,

Tesla coils most have a rapid string of pulse of radiofrequency causing AC it has a frequency

ranging from 50 kHz up to 1 MHz.

 3

Spark Gap vs. Solid State

Solid-state is unique, giving them more advantages over the standard and knowing spark

gap tesla coil. Spark gap, as the name suggests, makes sound from the gap while realizing

massive voltages. On the other hand, it is evident that solid-state work is intelligent and

generates massive voltage similar to what spark gap can do (Dandavate et al., 2018). The sound

that emerges from the spark gat tesla emits some spark, making it not friendly with most

electronic appliances even if it requires cautions. It is of a good advantage because no emission

of spark makes it risk handling electrical appliances. The old designs of Tesla coils contained

some power to kill, but technological advancement has helped reduce hazards.

How it Works

For a tesla system to work, two coils must be present: the primary coil and the secondary

coils, and must all contain unique capacitors. Capacitor gains the charges through the induction

process and store just like what happens in batteries. In this circuit, we have two coils and a

capacitor that complete the circuit via the spark gap. The gap between the electrodes contains full

sparks of electricity. It requires high voltage to generate the sparks that complete the circuit full

of sparks (Abd Aziz et al., 2016). We have the case that contains a lower power supply in the

case of direct current. The use of a step-up transformer makes the work easier. The low voltage

and high current come from the primary side of the transformer to low current and a higher

voltage on the secondary side of the transforming.

The power source always connects to the primary coil, while a primary coil acts as a

sponge and increases the charge. The primary capability to withstand massive charge comes

from copper, which is a good conductor. Having the capacitor increases more charges and
 4

cannot hold more; hence, it breaks the spark gap's air resistance (Makaa, 2015). In this process, a

magnetic field creation occurs because it is the action taking place equivalent to squeezing out a

soaked sponge, which in turn allows the current to flow out of the capacitor through the primary

coils. The amount of energy generated can break the magnetic field with ease and generate an

electric current for the secondary coils. A similar process occurs in the secondary coils to

generate sparks in the gap. The secondary capacitor gets so high but the massive flow of energy

and break free into an electric current. That electric current, once it the second coil is at a full

charge, displays that overflow of eclectical current in the for of an arc igniting fom the top end of

the sencondary. This high-frequency voltage can light a fluorescent bulb in the distance without

wires, but it must be in the electromagnetic field produced by the second coil. As a matter of fact

it can even light a burnt out lightbulb still, so long as the bulb is nt cracked, meaning whatever

gas it contains remains withing the bulb and since that is what reacts to the tells coils energy and

causes light to emit from it.

Tesla Coils with Capacitor

The capacitor plays an essential role in the tesla coil. The tesla coils require the operation

voltages, power, boards, and also coil wire to work. The wires will create some coils with 350

turns for both primary and secondary coil. The capacitor permanently stored the charges after the

switch is on. However, the operating voltages are down, and there is a need to increase the

voltages that will generate massive sparks (Tan et al., 2019). There is a need to use the slayer

exciter to step up the voltages capable of lighting other neon bulbs. The Slayer exciter can draw

massive voltage compared to a Negative-Positive-Negative transistor. The NPN transistor is

essential for amplification purposes, and the first negative and positive are terminals for input

voltage while the positive and last negative is for output voltage.
 5

Tesla coil uses two coils, primary and secondary coil, and each with capacitors. When the

current flow in the primary coil, the capacitor will store the charges, but leakage will be available

due to the high voltage. When the leakage occurs, there is spark throwing that will occur and

cause an impact on the second coils (Tan et al., 2019). The capacitor on the secondary coil will

get charged from the charges, completing the circuit. It can cause emission of high voltage from

the stored charges in the secondary capacitor noticeable in the distance with neon bulbs.

Resonance

It is the state for a system to get abnormal and massive vibrations to respond to changes

occurring when the frequency of the stimulus is similar. The cause always comes from an object

and causes motion on the second one to cope with the frequency levels. The circuit can absorb

or dissipate the maximum energy at resonance if one of the important in the circuit (Hui, 2016).

The high-value current at resonance generates a massive value of the voltages across the

inductors and capacitor. Working with circuits that contain resonance, there is a steadiness in the

frequency source. There is a situation where many frequencies from unique radio stations are

impinging on the radio antennae in unison; hence resonance is more critical. The capacitor and

inductor directly link together and exchange energy.

Tesla Coil Wireless Capability

It can radiate high voltage in all directions and is hard to connect to other electronic

apparatus. The reason for wireless is that the high voltage can destroy the wire in a short time,

even before reaching the destination. It makes it hard to use them and work for bulbs that contain

gases (Surwade et al., 2017). The bulb contains some small tiny, and shiny particles of

illuminating gases like neon. With a high voltage from the tesla coils, the electrodes get easily
 6

ionized; the impact goes up to the shiny particles. It will cause the particles to be shiny

depending on the different colors used in the particles in the bulb under high pressure.

The reason why it does not work for other bulbs or appliance is that they use LED

technology. The technology does not allow the shining of the particle as what happens in the

neon bulbs. This technology uses the light-emitting proton to generate light. It happens when

electric current passes through a semiconductor called a diode and generates protons via

electroluminescence (Abd Aziz et al., 2016). It is hard for them to generate some proton which

the high voltage is coming from the tesla coils. The current does not pass over the

semiconductor that emits the shining protons; in a fluorescent or neon bulb, the shining particle

is already there in the vacuum when the temperature rises.

Application of Tesla Coils Currently

The television is still making good use of these coils. There is no need to connect the

wire from the television station to their home to see what is going on globally. This process

could take a longer time for others to gain the services, and also, there could be a higher rate of

interference ((Dandavate et al., 2018). When many wires that lack insulation stay together, they

cause much interference on the signal; hence the signal could not be received clearly. This kind

of idea also applies to the radio devices, just as what happens in the television thought it just

transmit audio sound waves alone.

The application of these coils is in the leakage detector in a high vacuum system. The

spark on the outer surface can show the presence of a leakage in the vacuum system. in addition

to that, the high voltages spark plays an essential role in arc welder. It helps in generating some

spark that in the igniter essential for welding industries (Surwade et al., 2017). The tesla circuit
 7

also applies in the teslaphoresis by making some alignment of carbon nanotubes into a circuit.

On a lighter note, the tesla coil can be used as a weapon once the target occurs on the right path.

It does its timing with the target footprint to keep the switch on.  Tesla coils produces a massive

voltage from a small DC supply ranging from 5V to 24V. This capability to produce massive

voltage makes it cause damage as a weapon. The massive spark produced is very deadliest since

no one can withstand high voltage. The scientist is in the laboratory to ensure that it works well

because it requires cautiousness. It requires a controlled environment to reduce the risk. The

switch allows the voltage to flow, charging the capacitor; it cannot hold more charges because it

allows them to flow.

One Coil in Some Appliances

The advancement in technology has made it easier to use the tesla circuit as a practical

application. It was very hazardous to handling this volage as it lacked even normal insulation

abilities. Additionally, the technology has enabled regulation of the amount of spark generated to

reduce the harm and side effects on the environment (Pratik et al., 2018). It could be more

dangerous to handle a situation since spark travel in any direction. The electric shock would be

full of every location, so less equipment uses the wireless tesla coils. It can make life unbearable,

but more so, it is a good discovery. Some device like cell phone uses the one coils to draw the

idea from Tesla Nikola.

Suppose an appliance like a cellphone would have two coils, their would-be generation of

sparks, as noted in the Tesla coils. The space between the two coils will act as a sparked gap

creating room for the emission of spark. On the cellphone, this would be a higher rate of

interference in the signal. It will be hard to hear what one person was trying to talk about, but the

system will be full of sparks. On the other hand, they can increase the rate of radiation that is
 8

very harmful to humans' lives (Pratik et al., 2018). This concept of one coil borrows the tesla

idea about the spark, and it is a technique to ensure that a cellphone is safe for use. The X-ray

machine uses one coil to direct the emitted proton in one direction. The X-ray is very harmful

once they touch as skin hence the essence of controlling them before realize. Two coils will

create a sparked gap that will throw spark in any direction, affecting all the people in the

surrounding.

Conclusion

Tesla's idea was to generate high voltage with low current but high-frequency AC

electricity. The idea uses two electrodes and in between becomes a sparked gap. It is where the

sparks flow from both electrodes. Tesla coil can generate a high voltage power that is not visible

in fluorescent and neon bulbs. The LED bulb cannot recognize the high voltage power coming

from the tesla coil because of one resource. It does not have a tiny shiny particle but depends on

the current to pass through a semiconductor to generate protons. The proton can shine and acts as

the source of light. The tesla idea is still viable in most electronics like television and cellphones.
 9

References

Abd Aziz, P. D., Abd Razak, A. L., Bakar, M. I. A., & Aziz, N. A. (2016, October). A study on

wireless power transfer using the Tesla coil technique. In 2016 International Conference

on Sustainable Energy Engineering and Application (ICSEEA) (pp. 34-40). IEEE.

Dandavate, A., Joshi, D., Patel, V., & Shah, P. (2018). Development, Design, Applications, and

Handling of Tesla Coil Transformers: A Review.

Hui, S. R. (2016). Magnetic resonance for wireless power transfer.

Makaa, B. M. (2015, May). Wireless power transmission using solid-state Tesla coils. In

Proceedings of Sustainable Research and Innovation Conference (pp. 23-29).

 10

Pratik, U., Varghese, B. J., Azad, A., & Pantic, Z. (2018). Optimum design of decoupled

concentric coils for operation in double-receiver wireless power transfer systems. IEEE

Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Power Electronics, 7(3), 1982-1998.

Surwade, R., Patil, H., Parit, A., & Muley, S. (2017). Design of Tesla Coil. International

Research Journal of Engineering and Technology, 4(3), 1543-1546.

Tan, J. H., Li, Y. F., Zhu, B. J., Zhu, C. Q., Wang, J. G., Li, D. Z., ... & Chen, L. M. (2019).

Short-period high-strength helical undulator by laser-driven bifilar capacitor coil. Optics

express, 27(21), 29676-29684.