Harvesting Energy from Earths Electrostatic Potential

[fritz]

Imagine 2 huge conductive disc´s mounted lets say 1m appart isolated above ground, in between a 1F Capacitor.
After some time, the capacitor will be charged up according electric potential level near groud - about 200V/m - to 200V.
If charged, the charge of the capacitor will be about 200Coulomb, thats an energy of 20kJ.
By connecting a load I can harvest that energy - disconnect and recharge - ad infinitum.

The question is what diameter of discs would I need for what charging speed.


Any comments ?
lets try out.

[fritz]

well - will try that out somewhere in "free" space.
In my backyard there is only a bunch of mV using 1m2 disc 1m appart from ground.
That has a capacity of pF - so connecting a voltmeter is difficult.
If I add a capacitor - the wire of the cap distorts my field....
..Have to find my electrostatic meter in the lab ...

[exnihiloest]

...
After some time, the capacitor will be charged up according electric potential level near groud - about 200V/m - to 200V.
...

It will not. In order a capacitor to charge, charges must move away from an electrode and go to the other.
An electric field in space can't charge an isolated capacitor because there is no path for the electrons to flow.

[fritz]

If I have some caps in series - and charge them - the charge might distribute evenly on the caps - if they have identical parameters.
If I build a plate capacitor - with extra discs inside - this is an identical setup to caps in series.
Whats the difference between floating, isolated discs in an electric field in space and the inner caps of a series cap row ?
So if I have a huge disc cap in space - there is one parasitic cap between lower disc and ground - and another between upper plate and ionosphere.
Well - maybe a single disc which forms a capacitor to ground performs better.

[Low-Q]

It will not. In order a capacitor to charge, charges must move away from an electrode and go to the other.
An electric field in space can't charge an isolated capacitor because there is no path for the electrons to flow.

I think the 1F capacitor is connected to the discs - respectively one disc for each pole on the capacitor. The electric current will flow from each disc and charge the capacitor.

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