1. Alternating Current alternating current
Without doubt, the most significant innovations from Nikola Tesla are his contributions to alternating current (AC). It’s vital to emphasise that he did not develop or even discover AC, but his innovations made AC practical for general usage, helping to electrify the globe.
The narrative of how Tesla’s AC current evolved to be the dominant power system is hard to tell without mentioning about Thomas Edison. In his early career Tesla worked for Edison, whose business had created direct current (DC). DC is comparable to a battery, in that it only sends electricity out. The difficulty with DC is that the energy loses power as it moves further out. That’s when Tesla made his improvements in AC, which not only sends electricity out, but also takes power back to the source. This makes it far more viable to transport big quantities of electricity across a vast region.
Edison detested AC and felt that Tesla was utterly incorrect on the matter, leading to a conflict between the two. While Tesla was jobless, he did odd jobs until he was able to gather money for the Tesla Electric Company. His work grabbed the attention of engineer and industrialist George Westinghouse, who acquired most of Edison’s patents relating AC.
2. Teleautomaton teleatomaton
In 1898, during the Electrical Exhibition at Madison Square Garden, Tesla showed off an invention he named “teleautomaton“, which was a watercraft operated by radio waves. He didn’t even have a patent since the patent office didn’t want to grant one on something that they didn’t believe was viable, but he proved them wrong at the show. Tesla controlled the battery driven boat, controlling the propellor and lights using the radio waves.
This innovation was a huge first in three separate fields. The first was remote controls, inspiring the creation of things like television remotes and garage door openers. Secondly, the boat was also one of the first robots, since it was a mechanical entity that could be operated without a person physically touching it. Finally, the combination of robotics and radio control technologies makes Tesla’s boat the great grandfather of drones.
3. The Induction Motor inductionmotor
An induction motor employs alternating current and basically comprises two elements - a stator and a rotor. The stator remains fixed (duh) and employs electromagnets to spin the rotor that’s in the centre. Induction motors are recognised for being sturdy, simple to repair and economical to operate.
In the 1880s, there were two individuals who were working independently on the induction motor: Tesla and Galileo Ferrari. They both reported their discoveries in 1888, with the Italian inventor Ferrari revealing his engine two months before Tesla showed his. However, Tesla’s patents stood up under the weight of the evidence. Both had developed the same technology and arrived to the same independent conclusion, but Tesla had submitted his patents sooner. The induction motor was immensely important and is still used in common devices like vacuums, blow dryers, and power tools.
4. The Adams Power Plant Transformer House adamspowerplant
The Niagara Falls Commission was seeking for a business to construct a hydroelectric project that would harness the immense power of the falls for years. At first, they contemplated Thomas Edison’s direct current plant, but after seeing Tesla’s alternating current that was supplied by Westinghouse Electric, Westinghouse was given the contract in 1893. Westinghouse incorporated ideas from Tesla but a significant challenge remained on the front of gaining and sustaining money for such an ambitious endeavour that a lot of people believed would succeed.
Yet when the switch was flicked on November 16, 1896, the Adams Power Plant Transformer House operated and began powering the city of Buffalo, New York. Ten additional generators were installed, and helped power New York City. The project was deemed groundbreaking and established the pattern for current hydroelectric power facilities.
0 Post a Comment:
Post a Comment