Direct Current vs. Alternating Current

Direct Current vs. Alternating Current Did you know, that had Edison stood its ground, the entire global infrastructure, including the electric wiring in our houses, would, instead of the direct current, operate off of the alternating one? It wasn't long before the beginning of the 20th century, when Nikola Tesla invented methods for generation and transmission of alternating current, and constructed electric motors operating off such alternating current. And we all know that Tesla did win that fight. Alternating current is advantageous in that its voltage can be decreased and increased, which facilitates long distance transmission. Besides, the alternating current is spread with lower losses. In order to calculate losses of the direct current due to the resistance of the transmission line, we need to first determine the resistance of the line, and then insert it into the power equation. For example, if we take a power line transmitting direct current at 1,000 amperes with an unrealistically low resistance of 0.1 Ohm, losses at such line would constitute 10 megawatt! Besides, the voltage drop for such line would amount to over one kilovolt. Despite the aforementioned, the fight for returning direct current is still on at the industrial arena. Apart from pluses, the alternating current has a number of minuses, and more specifically difficulties with respect to maintaining the accurate flow frequency and phase alignment. A generator should have the same current frequency and phase, as in the power network. Otherwise truly awful things could happen. The alternating current has a number of issues with humongous power networks set up on the entire territory of an average country, more specifically with the differences in phases in different network sections and the power coefficient. It is also interesting that almost all of the home appliances, including a PC, immediately convert the alternating current into the direct one, and then use a switching power unit to decrease its voltage to the values required for correct operation of the system. The majority of electronic subsystems operate at the voltage of 1-48 volts. One more reason for a possible transition to the direct current is the growing demand for alternative power sources. Solar panels, for example, generate energy as direct current, which has to be converted into the alternating one for further transmission. As LEDs slowly replace incandescent bulbs and fluorescent lamps, the need for direct current will continue to grow. Just like in other cases, the direct current for LEDs is generated by a switching power supply unit. All of the aforementioned reasons gave birth to an entire movement for return of the direct current at least in household power networks. It is rather doubtful that Edison's followers would win the fight that has long been over. But it is quite possible that the two types would peacefully coexist under common roofing.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• current
• electricity
• history of technics
• physics
• voltage

[boobtuber06]

Knowing no Russian, I would've better understood this in the native tongue.

[2Garyable]

nikola teslaaaaa

[SittingMooseShaman]

...a factory that has 'in-house' generation capability...well, can go the DC route simply because of the relatively short transmission distances... As for a home...fugg the utilities...run excess voltage into a network of storage batteries.

[naota909]

But it is quite possible that the two types would peacefully coexist under common roofing -- I like that line.

[serg4nyc]

sloppy translator