Nikola Tesla, the genius of domestic energy.
The electricity that is normally used for household use is called alternating current electrical voltage (CA), and was developed by Nikola Tesla. Thanks to your ingenuity, today we can enjoy basic elements such as plugging an electrical device from the comfort of our home.
Today use is common and usual, but that at the end of the 19th and early twentieth century it resulted in a great scientific novelty.
Who was Nikola Tesla?
It was an inventor, electrical engineer, mechanical and physical engineer, Serbocroata, born in Smiljan, Austrohungal Empire, currently Croatia, on July 10, 1856. American citizen was nationalized in 1891. He died in New York City, United States of America, on January 7, 1943.
His contributions and inventions, which meant more than 300 patents, allowed great advances in science and technology. For his work and investigations he is considered the father of the second industrial revolution. Established the basis for the development of contemporary technology.
However, at the time he was misunderstood and numerous times questioned, being the value of his really appreciated legacy many years after his death.
Most of his works were structured in his brain, so it is not common to find schemes of his ideas.
The alternating current (CA).
Electricity and its behavior was subject to Nikola Tesla for much of its life. It was often questioned. Can electric energy get so far to all people?
On the way he found many obstacles to overcome. From the lack of interest of investors who will finance their projects to disputes with Thomas Alva Edison.
The inventors met in 1884, when Tesla was invited by Edison to work directly for him. He provided labor services at the New York headquarters of the Edison company from that year until his resignation for various disagreements in 1886.
The great inventions and prestige as an entrepreneur of Thomas Alva Edison did not intimidate Nikola Tesla, who defended the use of alternating current (CA). Tesla claimed that this type of current was the best form of long -distance electricity transmission, and time granted him the reason.
THE WAR OF THE CURRENTS.
The rivalry with Edison was focused on electrical efficiency between continuous current (CC) and alternating current (CA) systems, known as the War of Corrientes.
Thomas Alva Edison defended the way of transmitting energy by direct current, a system that was insufficient to meet the new demands for electricity consumption. Transmission to long distances of direct current (CC) implied a very high cost.
The thesis of Tesla, indicated as the best option to the alternating current (CA) to move energy effectively at a higher distance. He based his idea on the fact that in this type of current, electricity moves in both directions.
Indeed, due to the movement in both directions, the alternating current was more powerful than the direct current, which would allow greater long -distance amounts to be transmitted.
However, Edison in a discredit campaign claimed that the power of the alternating current (CA) generated unsafe conditions for domestic consumption, since it implied high risks of electrocution. This affects many setbacks for Tesla due to the suspicion of investors who considered it unfeasible for insecure for use.
Tesla’s impetus did not resose until it managed to materialize its idea of generating the type of electrical alternating current in 1888. He then invented the alternating current engine, which he exhibited in an electrical engineering contest of that year, attracting the interest of large investors.
Alternating current in buffalo
With the support of the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company’s, it reached in 1896 supply electricity to the city of Buffalo, New York. To this end, Nikola Tesla managed to generate alternating current through an engine, taking advantage of the water force of the Niagara cataracts.
This fact was considered as a feat, transporting energy at a distance of 32 kilometers maintaining a constant power. Regulated through electric transformers to make it safe.
Tesla through its exhibition in the city of Buffalo, managed to prove that it was possible to generate current without long distance power. With the alternating current, the needs of distant communities could be met at low production cost.
He demonstrated three years before, during the Universal Exhibition of Chicago, State of Illinois, of 1893, that it was safe for domestic use in homes. Its use did not imply such an electrocution risk due to the power generated, a circumstance that was affirmed by Edison.
In this sense, Tesla in this exhibition literally jump sparks from his fingers without the current doing any harm. The general public could observe that the risk of electric shock by using alternating current was practically the same as using continuous current.
With the above, the ineffective was evidence. This meant a higher cost of production to generate more current and reduce the loss of evaporated energy in the form of heat at interurban distances.
Durgent current at long distances hardly remained on an average of 110 V, lost efficiency because it dissipated fading its power. Producing continuous current to voltages above 110 was very expensive and unusual.
The world adopts alternating current.
In short, producing at low cost and efficiently constant energy at 110 v or greater long distance was a reality with alternating energy. From the test carried out in the town of Buffalo, it was already considered a viable option for its large -scale production.
Nikola Tesla reinforced its structure with the development of alternate polyphase and transformative generators that made it more stable. This finished convincing the United States government to establish the use of alternating current as a system of energy supply throughout its territory.
At present, the alternating current is constituted in the standard electrical system of all countries. It is considered one of the most relevant inventions in history.
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