As we all know, generators can be divided into DC generators and AC generators. At present, alternator is widely used, and so is hydro generator. But in the early years, DC generators occupied the whole market, so how did AC generators occupy the market? What’s the connection between hydro generators here? This is about the battle of AC and DC and the 5000hp hydro generator of Adams power station in Niagara Falls.
Before introducing the Niagara Falls hydro generator, we have to start with a very important AC/DC war in the history of electrical development.
Edison is a famous American inventor. He was born in poverty and had no formal school education. However, he obtained nearly 1300 invention patents in his life by relying on his extraordinary intelligence and personal struggle spirit. On October 21, 1879, he applied for the invention patent of carbon filament incandescent lamp (No. 22898); In 1882, he founded Edison electric lamp company to produce incandescent lamps and their DC generators. In the same year, he built the world’s first large-scale thermal power plant in New York. He sold more than 200000 bulbs within three years and monopolized the whole market. Edison’s DC generators also sell well in the American continent.
In 1885, when Edison was at its peak, American steinhouse keenly noticed the newly born AC power supply system. In 1885, Westinghouse purchased the patent on AC lighting system and transformer applied by gaulard and Gibbs in the United States on February 6, 1884 (U.S. Patent No. n0.297924). In 1886, Westinghouse and Stanley (W. Stanley, 1856-1927) succeeded in boosting the single-phase AC to 3000V with a transformer in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, USA, transmitting 4000ft, and then reducing the voltage to 500V. Soon, Westinghouse made and sold several AC lighting systems. In 1888, Westinghouse purchased the patent of Tesla, an “electrician genius”, on AC motor, and hired Tesla to work in Westinghouse. It was committed to developing AC motor and promoting the application of AC motor, and achieved success. The successive victories of Westinghouse in developing alternating current attracted the envy of the invincible Edison and others. Edison, H.P. brown and others published articles in newspapers and journals, took advantage of the public’s fear of electricity at that time, wantonly publicized the danger of alternating current, claiming that “all life near the alternating current conductor can not survive” That no living create could survive in the danger of conductors carrying alternatives current In his article, he attacked the use of AC in an attempt to strangle AC in his infancy. Facing the attack of Edison and others, Westinghouse and others also wrote articles to defend AC. as a result of the debate, the AC side gradually won. The DC side was unwilling to lose, H.P. Brown (when he was Edison’s laboratory assistant) He also encouraged and supported the state assembly to pass a decree on the execution of the death penalty by electrocution, and in May 1889, he purchased three alternators produced by Westinghouse and sold them to the prison as the power supply for the electrocution chair. In the eyes of many people, alternating current is the synonym of the God of death. At the same time, the people’s Congress on Edison’s side created public opinion: “The electric chair is the proof that alternating current makes people easy to die. In response, Westinghouse held a tit for tat press conference. Tesla personally tied the wires all over his body and connected them to a string of bulbs. When the alternating current was turned on, the electric light was bright, but Tesla was safe. Under the adverse situation of public opinion failure, the DC side tried to kill the alternating current legally.
In the spring of 890, some congressmen in Virginia proposed a proposal on “for the prevention of danger from electric currents” At the beginning of April, the parliament established a jury to hold a hearing. Edison and Morton, general manager of the company, and L.B. Stillwell, engineer of Westinghouse (1863-1941) And defense lawyer h. Levis attended the hearing. The arrival of the famous Edison blocked the parliament hall. Edison said sensationally at the hearing: “direct current is like” a river flowing peacefully to the sea “, and alternating current is like” mountain torrents scouring cliffs violently ” (a torrent rushing violently over a precipice)” Morton also tried his best to attack AC, but their testimony was pointless and unconvincing, which made the audience and judges fall into a fog. The witnesses from Westinghouse and many electric light companies refuted the argument that AC is very dangerous with concise and clear technical language and the practice of 3000V electric lights they have widely used. Finally, the jury passed a resolution after debate After Virginia, Ohio and other States soon denied similar motions. Since then, AC has gradually been accepted by the people, and Westinghouse has a growing reputation in the war of communication (for example, in 1893, it accepted an order contract for 250000 bulbs at the Chicago Fair) Edison Electric Light Company, which was defeated in the AC / DC war, was discredited and unsustainable. It had to merge with Thomson Houston company in 1892 to establish general electric company (GE) As soon as the company was established, it abandoned Edison’s idea of opposing the development of AC equipment, inherited the work of manufacturing AC equipment of the original Thomson Houston company, and vigorously promoted the development of AC equipment.
The above is an important battle between AC and DC in the history of motor development. The controversy finally concluded that the harm of AC was not as dangerous as DC supporters said. After this resolution, the alternator began to usher in the spring of development, and its characteristics and advantages began to be understood and gradually accepted by people. This was also later in Niagara Falls Among the hydro generators in the hydropower station, the alternator is a factor to win again.
Post time: Sep-11-2021
