A LARGE ALUMINIUM DOMED VAN DER GRAFF GENERATOR  powered by a "Parvalux" electric motor, 70cm high In working order. A Van de Graaff generator is an electrostatic generator which uses a moving belt to accumulate electric charge on a hollow metal globe on the top of an insulated column, creating very high electric potentials. It produces very high voltage direct current (DC) electricity at low current levels. It was invented by American physicist Robert J. Van de Graaff in 1929.