The historical development of AC electricity and the scientific debate between Thomas Edison’s DC power system and Nikola Tesla’s AC power system
By: Avi Sharma (999817587)
The development of distributed power generations has an intriguing history, starting from the dispute between choosing between DC and AC for power distribution to the current applications of the two types of current. The first instance of an Alternating Current motor appeared in 1882, where Sabastian Ferranti, in conjunction with Lord Kelvin designed electronic devices that could be used to implement an AC power system, including electrical generators and transformers. Five years later, Ferranti designed the Deptford power station, which is today regarded as one of the
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He also notable founded General Electric, which is to this day one of the largest corporations in the world and remains heavily involved in the power industry. Towards the end of the 19th century, Edison was involved in a direct competition with Westinghouse in a competition that would come to define the applications of DC and AC electricity, known as the “War of currents”. Edison and his company had invested in DC powered technology for many years, and he often refused to investigate AC as a superior alternative for power distribution. Edison had even hired Tesla to work for his company in 1882, but Tesla found no opportunities to develop his ideas on AC technology while working for Edison. Instead, he was assigned to work on improving previous designs of DC motors, at which he …show more content…
Returning to the comparison between DC and AC power distribution systems, it is important to note that there is a fundamental difference between the design of the two systems. The major difference between the two is that transformers make it possible for AC systems to supply high-voltage power that can be used by any customers, regardless to voltage requirements. Transformers make it possible for power suppliers to step up their voltage for transmission, and transformers used by consumers can step down the voltage to the required level. As such, the AC power distribution system tends to consist of a few large-scale power generation operations that supply a large area. On the other hand, a DC distribution system tends to have power stations servicing smaller
“The ‘genius who lit the world’ is now commemorated with an electrical unit called the Tesla, has a place in the inventor’s hall of fame, streets, statues, and a prestigious engineer’s award in his name, but in life he wasn’t always so successful,” according to Whipps (2014). Though if a person at random were to be asked whom might be the responsible party for mainstream electricity, they might not finger Tesla in the lineup. Benjamin Franklin might be the answer spouted off, or perhaps it may be Thomas Edison, and in some fashion both answers are on the right track. It would be all but asinine to refuse Tesla credit for all his achievements and contributions to advance current society through groundbreaking and revolutionary
Kosanovic, Bogdan R. "Nikola Tesla: A Short Biography." Neuronet. 20 October 1994. Web. 10 Sept. 2011. .
As James Levine is famous for saying, “I was lucky that I met the right mentors and teachers at the right moment.” To me, one of the greatest mentors of innovative scientific history was Nikola Tesla. That being said, if given the opportunity to spend the next year of my life in a different time period I would like to live during the year 1942 so I could work beside Tesla. This was the year before Tesla died, a time when he had experienced the full scope of his expertise and could impart that wisdom to me. My questions about his popularity would be answered in full. Questions about Tesla’s integrity could lead to the answer to the legendary disputes about what was rightfully his. Legends about genius inventions that could only be imagined
The module AC/DC is directly related to the career path of the electrical linemen. In the module i learned about two types of electrical current, alternating (AC), and direct current (DC). In direct current (DC), the electric charge (current) only flows in one direction. Electric charge in alternating current (AC), on the other hand, changes direction periodically. The voltage in (AC) circuits also periodically reverses because the current changes direction. Electrical lineman work on power lines and other thing that have (AC) or (DC) current depending on what they are working on. Lineman work on electrically energized (live) and de-energized (dead) power line. They may perform a number of tasks associated with power lines, including installation or replacement of distribution equipment such as capacitor banks, distribution transformers on poles, insulators and fuses.
This hopefully adds some insight into the use of electric motors, and the principals of them that make these motors work. Such as electromagnetism, binary switches for DC motors, and the selection of a running frequency of a motor through the use of an oscillator.
AC and DC literally stand for Alternating Current and Direct Current. Direct Current is very convenient and is used in many modern day utilities. For a circuit with DC the current is constanly in one direction, while the voltage remains constant. This makes for a simplistic circuit, for example a flashlight, The batteries are a source of electrochemical DC power and . However AC is called Alternating Current because the voltage changes from negative to positive a given number of times a second, this is also described as the frequency of the power. An example of this would be a motor ran by a hand crank. The inversing of charges creates a sinusoidal graph which looks something like figure 1 (given in radians). This makes for an unsteady power source and can often times be warped from the sinusoidal shape. So the main difference between AC and DC is the way the energy is transmitted.
Thomas Alva Edison was considered one of the greatest inventors and industrial leader. He had over 1000 inventions but none greater then his ability to develop a system that would provide people with a wide safe stable and efficient light and power. This also lead to other countries such as Europe and South America to follow this wonderful invention that modernized the world forever.
All useful generators of electricity come in two basic forms, alternating current and direct current. Direct current (dc) comes from generators that do not change in polarity, always producing a positive charge. In alternating current (ac) the polarity of the terminals is always changing from positive to negative. Thus you are left with alternating current flow. There are different ways of measuring and generating alternating and direct current.
[3] Pilbeam J, Fritz W and Smith C. Electrical Principles and Practice. Cape Town : s.n., 2008.
The history of engineering goes back into the 19th century when Alexander Volta (1745-1827) made a remarkable discover regarding the nature of electricity (Cosgrove 749). He discovered that electrical current could be controlled and could flow from one point to another. By the time the mid-19th century came about the rules for electricity were being established. During this time electromagnetic induction was discovered by Michael Faraday who lived from 1791 to 1867 (749). Also during this time Samuel Morris invented the telegraph in 1837 which relies on the principles of electromagnetic induction (749). Alexander Graham Bell, who lived from 1847 to 1922, created the telephone which also uses electricity in order to operate (749). Through the success of the telephone, Bell Telephone Company was established. In 1878, the light bulb was finally invented by Thomas Edison who lived from 1847 to 1931 (749). Off the principles of Faraday’s electric motor from 1821, Nicholas Tesla invented a more efficient and powerful electric motor in 1888 (749). To make these inventions be more significant, effort was expended to make better motors and transformers and to enhance the power needed to make them function. Through these inventions during the middle 19th century, it led to the capability of lighting homes and cities through the use of electricity, and it also led to the creation of the telephone communication system (750).
Thomas Edison is widely regarded as one of the most influential inventors and innovators of the Twentieth Century. Edison’s efforts ushered in a new era of technology; a world in which electricity would be harnessed and made to bow before man’s will. Walter Lippman wrote, “It is impossible to measure the importance of Edison by adding up the specific inventions with which his name is associated” (qtd. in Baldwin 409). Edison’s decades long career was a synergistic melding of his success as an inventor and his prowess as a promoter and businessman. He exemplified the ideals of intelligence married to hard work and perseverance. He forever changed the landscape of American invention and the limits of technological change (Baldwin 409).
He next formed a company, the Tesla Electric Light & Manufactoring. Unfortunately, his investors disagreed with his plans for developin...
The effects of electricity control much of our daily lives. Many of our gadgets and everyday tasks are run by this wonderful source of power. For example without electricity we would not be able to make a cup of coffee in the mourning, or even make a long distance call to family or friends. There have been several technological breakthroughs by many brilliant people throughout history regarding electricity. It has come from being discovered as a small current to being transformed into useful power to run such things as computers. Ben Franklin, Guglielmo Marconi, Thomas Edison, Paul Nipkow, and Charles Babbage have all contributed to the advancement of electricity, and all of their advancements have supplied society in many ways.
It converts the mechanical energy of the rotating shaft caused by wind into electrical energy (Correla, 1986). The focus of this research will be limited to devices that operate as electrical motors.... ... middle of paper ... ...
3) I would prefer a video links and more picture of the Thomas Edison’s inventions. Also I found myself search for more information about the motion picture camera that Thomas Edison invented. I feel those inventions was very interesting because right now everywhere we have electricity light bulbs, sound recorder, and picture camera…etc. Our society getting better because of those inventors and their