Researchers have demonstrated a new way to generate electricity without physical contact, using compressed air, static electricity, and a modern reinterpretation of Nikola Tesla’s bladeless turbine. The system converts electrostatic charges present in industrial airflows into usable electrical power, producing peak outputs of 800 volts and 2.5 amps without relying on combustion, magnets, or traditional generators, according to the published study.
The device is based on the Tesla turbine, a rotary machine patented in 1913 that uses viscous drag instead of blades. Rather than deflecting airflow with angled vanes, the turbine relies on smooth, closely spaced discs. As air flows across their surfaces, it transfers momentum through friction, causing the discs to spin. This design minimizes mechanical wear and allows operation at very high rotational speeds.
In the new system, the turbine is paired with triboelectric materials that exploit static electricity generated as compressed air moves through pipes. In industrial environments, compressed air often carries dust and moisture, which become electrically charged through friction, a phenomenon known as the triboelectric effect. These static charges are usually considered a nuisance or safety hazard. Here, they are deliberately harvested.
Compressed air enters the acrylic housing and creates a high-speed swirling flow reaching up to 300 meters per second. At a pressure of 0.2 megapascals, the turbine reaches nearly 8,500 revolutions per minute. As the discs rotate, opposing triboelectric layers generate high-voltage electrical output without direct electrical contact.
Beyond power generation, the system also produces negative ions, which can neutralize charged dust particles and airborne moisture. This dual function means the technology could simultaneously generate electricity while improving air quality and reducing static-related safety risks in factories.
Because many industrial facilities already rely heavily on compressed air, the system could be integrated without major infrastructure changes. Instead of wasting the static electricity produced during normal operations, plants could recover energy and lower overall costs while improving safety.
Researchers say the work expands the practical potential of static electricity harvesting, an area long viewed as impractical for real-world power generation. By combining century-old mechanical principles with modern materials science, the approach turns an industrial byproduct into a usable energy source.
While the technology is still at the experimental stage, it points to a future where static electricity is no longer just something to ground away, but something worth collecting.
