HUGE technology development.

[scott wurcer]

DC bashing? I love DC, but not for power transmission. (Edison couldnt even get power to the top floor of the Empire state building from the main floor). We use DC for what its good at, and AC for what its good at. Edison never got that.

There are plenty of DC high power distribution systems in use now, in some cases it is simply better (lower loss, etc).

 

[cbdb]

There are plenty of DC high power distribution systems in use now, in some cases it is simply better (lower loss, etc).

Are they distributing residential power?

 

[GloBug]

AC is used to transport electricity, that's it.
Sure we have AC motors to simplify things, that is until you want to change the speed.
I don't see how Edsion could have gone AC with Westinghouse already doing it. It's like Burger King making a Big Mac. They both made stuck to their guns.

 

[Zero D]

I was surprised to find out recently that HVDC transmission is actually being used. Not only that, but is has been for years, & is increasing it's share of big installations !

High-voltage direct current https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-voltage_direct_current

Lots of links & info etc on the above.

 

[GloBug]

That is a good read.

It appears AC is better/cheaper if your trying to light up the top floor off the Empire State building.
It's advantage was/is very short-sighted.

It looks like DC is the common currency, (No pun intended) when trading electricity between countries. Economy of scale.

The article also highlights the dominate advantages of DC as we evolve into renewable energy.

Edison was a man ahead of his time.

 

[Wavebourn]

Sure, DC is more convenient for power grids. And the majority of SMPSs are DC ready. Some old devices that require AC can run from class D amps.

 

[cbdb]

Sure, DC is more convenient for power grids.

Until you need to convert the voltage.

"The disadvantages of HVDC are in conversion, switching, control, availability and maintenance.
HVDC is less reliable..."

 

[cbdb]

It looks like DC is the common currency, (No pun intended) when trading electricity between countries. Economy of scale.

Its not economy its , engineering. To link AC power the signals have to be the same freq. and in sync. Not a worry with DC.

 

[GloBug]

Did you read article? Your grasping at straws now.

 

[SoNic_real_one]

Until you need to convert the voltage.

"The disadvantages of HVDC are in conversion, switching, control, availability and maintenance.
HVDC is less reliable..."

Disadvantage of AC is the need to syncronize the rotation speed and phase of 10000 turbines across the grids of different countries - some nuclear, some coal, some water powered (different reaction times to consumption fluctuations). For the connection of 60Hz to 50Hz power networks there is no way around DC.
And... did you ever try to store AC? Spikes in consumption could be provided by supercapacitors in DC, in AC you need some fast acting gas powered turbines (very expensive to run, even in stand-by).
Edison didn't have solid-state DC-DC converters, now we have.

An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.