TESLA ALTERNATING CURRENT POLYPHASE SYSTEM
Tesla was the most important contributors to the birth of commercial
electricity, and is best known for his many revolutionary developments
in the field of electromagnetism in the late 19th and early 20th
centuries. From his work with rotary magnetic fields, Tesla devised a
system for generation, transmission, and use of AC power. This gave real
impetus to the Second Industrial Revolution. It was a monumental
achievement, which is basically unchanged today.
Nikola Tesla's Alternating current polyphase generators on display
at the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago. Tesla's polyphase innovations
revolutionized transmission.
Tesla alternating current induction motor is considered one of the
ten greatest discoveries of all time.
Nikola Tesla AC polyphase system of electrical power distribution
When Tesla introduced a system for alternating current generators,
transformers, motors, wires and lights in November and December 1887, it
became clear that AC was the future of electric power distribution. The
advantage of AC for distributing power over a distance is due to the
ease of changing voltages with a transformer. Alternating current could
be transmitted over long distances at high voltages, at lower current
for lower voltage drops (thus with much greater transmission efficiency
than DC), and then conveniently stepped down to low voltages for use in
homes and factories.
But
Edison had too much money invested into his DC system, and he tried his
best to discredit Tesla by showing that AC was more dangerous than DC.
Edison's direct current was the standard for the United States and
Edison was not inclined to lose all his patent royalties. When Tesla
arrived in the United States and sought Edison's backing for his new AC
devices, Edison refused to listen. "Hold up! Spare me that nonsense.
It's dangerous. We're set up for direct current in America. People like
it, and it's all I'll ever fool with."
Tesla partnered with business magnate George
Westinghouse to commercialize his AC system. It was at this time that
Edison launched a propaganda war against alternating current. This war
is known as „War of currents“. To read more about huge battle between
Tesla and Edison
click here.
In his speech (1917) presenting Tesla with the Edison
medal, Vice President Behrend of the Institute of Electrical Engineers
eloquently expressed the following: "Were we to seize and eliminate from
our industrial world the result of Mr. Tesla's work, the wheels of industry
would cease to turn, our electric cars and trains would stop, our towns
would be dark and our mills would be idle and dead. His name marks an epoch
in the advance of electrical science."
