1660, Gehrig built the world's first rotating friction generator, but it generated static electricity, so it was difficult to be put into practical use.
1780, Italian doctor Ghianni studied the current generated by chemical action rather than static electricity from the reaction of animal tissues to current. He claimed that animal tissues could generate electricity. Although his theory was proved wrong, his experiment promoted the study of electricity.
1799, Italian physicist Volt proved that Jaffney's current does not come from animals. Putting any wet object between two different metals will produce current. This discovery directly led Volt to invent the world's first battery in 1800.
182 1 year, the British physicist Faraday invented the world's first motor. Although this device is simple, it is the ancestor of all motors in the world today. This is a major breakthrough. However, its practical use is still very limited, because there is no other way to generate electricity except simple batteries.
183 1 Faraday found that when a magnet passes through a closed circuit, there will be current in the circuit, and this effect is called electromagnetic induction. Is one of Faraday's greatest contributions. Therefore, he invented the world's first generator that can generate continuous current. The future generators are all made according to the same electromagnetic induction principle.
Since then, mankind has entered the era of electrical appliance application, and various practical electrical appliances have begun to appear.
1879 Edison invented the world's first practical incandescent light bulb.
Power plants around the world have developed rapidly since Edison invented the electric light.
Pearl Street Power Plant was put into operation in Manhattan, new york in 1882, and is known as the earliest power plant in the world. There are 6 sets of steam engine generator sets 120 kW.
The earliest power plant in China was also built in 1882. It was established by the British in the Shanghai Concession. At that time, the power plant was designed to supply power for electric lighting. Old Shanghainese called power plants electric light companies, which is probably the reason.