Since the end of 1980s in 19, Thomas? Edison and Nicholas? Tesla is caught in a struggle called "the current war".
Edison discovered direct current-the direction of direct current is constant, such as battery or fuel cell. In the early days of power development, direct current (DC) has always been the American power standard.
But there is a problem: DC is not easy to convert into higher or lower voltage.
Tesla believes that alternating current (AC) is the solution to this problem. The current direction of alternating current can be changed several times per second, and it is relatively easy to convert it into different voltages with a transformer.
Edison didn't want to lose the royalties he got from DC patent, so he launched a campaign to denigrate AC. He spread false information that alternating current is more dangerous everywhere. To prove his point, he even publicly killed stray animals with alternating current.
1893, the United States hosted the Chicago World Expo, also known as the World Columbia Expo, which was at the peak of the "current war".
General electric offered $554,000 to use Edison's DC power generation system to provide power services for the exhibition, but lost to George? Westinghouse electric. The latter promised to use Tesla's AC power generation system at a price of only $399,000.
In the same year, because Westinghouse Electric Company owned Tesla's patent of multiphase AC induction motor, Niagara Falls Power Company decided to sign a contract with the company to use Niagara Falls to generate electricity. Although some people question whether Niagara Falls can supply power to Buffalo and New York State, Tesla is convinced that this hydropower station can not only supply power to Buffalo, but also supply power to the entire eastern United States.
1896 165438+1October16, the alternating current of Niagara Falls Hydropower Station lit up the night sky in Buffalo. At this point, Ge finally decided to jump on the exchange train.
Ac seems to have completely defeated DC, but in recent years, DC has the momentum of revival.
Today, our electricity is still mainly provided by alternating current, but computers, light-emitting diodes, solar cells and electric vehicles are all provided by direct current. Now there are ways to convert DC voltage into high voltage or low voltage. Because direct current is more stable, companies are looking for high voltage direct current transmission (HVDC) to reduce the power loss caused by long-distance transmission.
Therefore, it seems that the current war will not end yet. However, it is not a PK battle between alternating current and direct current, but more like some kind of armistice agreement, which will eventually continue in parallel.
None of this would have been possible without geniuses like Tesla and Edison.