Sei sulla pagina 1di 3

Electrical Circuits II

Homework 1

Yiann Addid Celaya Solano


A01250246

How Electricity Works


At the end of the 19 th century, electricity started to have a wider use but problems
related to the transportation of direct current, which was in use at the time, arose.
To solve this problem, two solutions were proposed. Direct current advocates, such
as Thomas Edison, wanted to generate electric power near the place of its
consumption, a task that would have been extremely impractical and expensive.
On the other hand, George Westinghouse and Nikola Tesla proposed the use of
alternating current, which could be stepped up to higher voltages to facilitate
transportation.
During what is called the War of Currents, Edison and his collaborators used
alternating current to execute animals and spoke at gatherings against AC.
However, when General Electric and Westinghouses company applied for the task
of lighting the Chicago Worlds fair in 1883, the latter won with an offer two times
lower.
After the event, alternating current had a higher demand than direct current and its
use continues to be prevalent in the production and distribution of electrical energy.
Today, electric power is generated in power plants by turning a turbine attached to
a spinning electrical generator, which consists of a magnet that spins inside coils of
wire. Usually, high-pressure steam obtained by heating water with a nuclear
reaction or by burning fossil fuels or coal is used to turn the turbine; wind, highpressure water or gas are also used.

Electrical Circuits II
Homework 1

Yiann Addid Celaya Solano


A01250246

As opposed to the AC used in homes, which is a single sine wave oscillating with a
frequency of 60 Hz, the power generated in power plants consists of three phases
synchronized and offset by 120 degrees.
The reason why three phases are produced is simple. A single sine wave with a
frequency of 60 Hz or two waves offset by 180 degrees cross zero 120 times per
second (twice per period), but if three waves are offset by 120 degrees, there is
always one that is nearing a peak.
In order to transmit electric power in an efficient manner, transformers step the
voltage up from thousands of volts to hundreds of thousands, reducing the current
going through the wires and thus diminishing power losses.
Depending on its application, electric energy is transported to a transmission
substation or a local distribution substation. In a transmission substation, it is
stepped down to be delivered over short distances to industrial users. In a local
distribution substation, it is also stepped down and distributed to transformers
located on poles that reduce it to 120/240 or 120/208 volts for use in homes,
schools and small businesses.
To summarize, electric power is generated at power plants, which consist of a
spinning electrical generator that produces three-phase alternating current power,
since it has many advantages with respect to direct current:

Transformers, which are necessary to step the voltage up and down and

transport power, work on AC.


As opposed to converting AC to DC, converting DC to AC is expensive.

Electrical Circuits II
Homework 1

Yiann Addid Celaya Solano


A01250246

References
Brain, M. (n.d.). How Power Grids Work. Retrieved January 14, 2015, from
http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/power.htm
How Electricity Works. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14, 2015, from
https://www.pacificpower.net/ed/se/hew.html
How the electric transmission system works. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14, 2015,
from http://www.minnelectrans.com/transmission-system.html
Stojanovi, S. (n.d.). War of the Currents. Retrieved January 14, 2015, from
http://www.b92.net/eng/special/tesla/life.php?nav_id=36440

Potrebbero piacerti anche