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Alternating Current
The AC motor was an integral part of Westinghouse's AC power system. It was the final piece of the AC puzzle that he needed to be able to compete with Edison's DC system. It not only matched the capabilities of the DC motor but in many ways exceeded them. It had a longer life expectancy as it was an induction motor that required no brushes to transfer electricity to the coils of the motor. The one thing that was more difficult with the AC motor was controlling the speed due to polyphase properties of AC current. Luckily Westinghouse had invested in Tesla and held the patents to this AC motor which gave him a great upper hand in his battle against Edison.
The Chicago World's Fair was "held in Chicago in 1893, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' 'discovery' of the New World" ("World's Columbian Exposition"). Over 200,000 light bulbs were illuminated by the poly phase AC proposed by Nikola Tesla, and it proved superior to the existing DC. The lights were empowered by Westinghouse's generators that were designed by Tesla to run on alternating current. Westinghouse, with the use of his abundant amounts of money, was able to outbid Edison, and in-turn was able to prove to not only those in Chicago, but the entire world, that alternating current was superior to direct current ("Opening Ceremony").
History of Chicago's World Fair
Nicola Tesla was responsible for the lighting of the Chicago World’s Fair. He was able to out bid Edison with the backing of Westinghouse. Westinghouse’s support at the time for Tesla was an undying breed. It seemed to people as an adoration for the sciences, but it may also be perceived as a meal ticket off of Tesla’s genius. A quote from the site The UnMuseum speaks of the reason of Westinghouse and Tesla winning the bid “Competitors had bid a DC system for the fair, but lost the job because the huge amount of copper needed for such a DC system (because of its low effiencey) was too high.” We learn that the efficiency and the distance capability from this form of power, won Tesla the right, and was a major turning point in the battle of the currents. The Fair was the first to be operated with the use of electricity, and through this achievement brought the support of the people for the ability to use A.C. currents. People were amazed by the brilliance of the light bulbs Tesla was forced to design after Edison refused to sell them for the Fair. With the World’s Fair a success the business of A.C. roared into action. Edison could no longer try to discredit Tesla with the use of A.C. as being harmful, and Tesla was soon recognized as one of the single most famous scientists and inventors of the time.
Backing of the Transformer
The Transformer was essential to Westinghouse's AC electric system. The transformer essentially stepped electricity either up or down. This meant the transformer amplified the voltage when the voltage was stepped up and it reduced the voltage when the voltage was stepped down. This was very important as the AC electric system runs on very high voltage in order to efficiently send electricity over long distances. The transformers then step down the electricity before it enters houses and businesses. And in some cases the transformer steps up the electricity for intense machinery and equipment. Westinghouse backed the transformer for his electric system and even redesigned it and “in 1886 he installed the first multiple-voltage ac power system.” The same year, 20 multiple-voltage ac power systems were installed and were set running. The transformer enabled Westinghouse's AC system to work and provide consumers and businesses the power they needed and it enabled The Westinghouse Electric Company to efficiently distribute electricity at a low cost. This eventually was the reason Westinghouse won the War of the Currents.
One of Westinghouse greatest contributions to the world is the provision of a alternating current system.Westinghouse's AC system was cheaper, lower-maintenance, and more efficient than Edison's DC (direct current) system. AC current used high voltages that could be transmitted with minimal power losses and then could reduced by transformers to usable voltages. In 1886, Westinghouse completed the first practical AC network.In 1893, the Westinghouse system was chosen to provide AC power to the World's Columbian Exhibition in Chicago. In the following years, the Westinghouse's electric company completed the first long-range AC power network, transmitting electricity 40 miles from generators at Niagara Falls to Buffalo, New York. The AC system eventually ovetook Edison's DC system and is the system we use today.
Contributions made by:
1)Mike Dupuy,
2)Teddy Kwalwasser,
3)Jason McCall
4)Colin Edwards
5) Sheel Patel
References:
1) Opening Ceremony: http://www.teslasociety.com/columbia_expo2.htm
2) World's Columbian Exposition: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World's_Columbian_Exposition
3)Cowen, Katie. SCIENCE HERO: NIKOLA TESLA . 6 June 2004. 3 November 2007 <http://www.myhero.com/myhero/hero.asp?hero=nikolaTesla>.
4) Krystek, Lee. Sorcerer of Lightning: Nikola Tesla. 2002. 4 November 2007 <http://unmuseum.mus.pa.us/tesla.htm>.
5) Jill Jones, Empires of Light, Random House publishing, New York 2003
6)Westinghouse: http://www.memagazine.org/backissues/membersonly/october96/features/westingh/westingh.html
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