The Epic Clash That Powered the Modern World
Following a previous discussion on electricity's crucial role in contemporary society, including the Industrial Revolution phases since 1760 and various energy sources, this column delves into the fascinating historical narrative known as the "War of the Currents." This pivotal conflict fundamentally shaped how electricity is generated and distributed across the globe today.
The Foundation: DC vs. AC Generators
Electricity generation typically involves a rotating electric generator, which serves as the driven component, and a prime mover as the driving force. While multiple types of prime movers exist, electric generators are primarily categorized into two distinct kinds: Direct Current (DC) generators and Alternating Current (AC) generators.
In 1887, the visionary Serbian electrical genius Nikola Tesla, who had immigrated to America in 1884, invented the polyphase AC generator. Initially, Tesla worked as an assistant to Thomas Edison, the renowned inventor of the DC generator or dynamo. However, when Tesla presented his alternating current design to Edison, it was dismissed as impractical and unsafe. Historical records suggest Edison perceived Tesla's AC generator as a significant commercial threat, sparking intense hostility between the two inventors.
The War of Currents Escalates
This rivalry escalated into the historic "War of the Currents," with Edison aggressively attempting to prove Tesla's AC generator was both impractical and dangerous. In a notorious public demonstration, Edison electrocuted an elephant using Tesla's AC electricity, resulting in the animal's death, to underscore his safety concerns.
Conversely, Tesla demonstrated the practicality and safety of his AC generator through a famous public exhibition where he allowed high-voltage, high-frequency AC electricity to pass through his own body, emerging unharmed. This dramatic proof ultimately established the superiority of Tesla's AC electricity over Edison's DC system, effectively concluding the War of the Currents.
Betrayal, Struggle, and Redemption
After leaving Edison's company, partly due to a broken promise where Edison offered $50,000 for improvements to his DC generator but later dismissed it as an "American humor" joke, Tesla faced severe financial hardship. He attempted various business ventures without success, eventually working as a ditch digger for $2 per day in 1886 to survive.
Industrialist George Westinghouse, aware of the ongoing current war, recognized the potential of Tesla's polyphase AC generator. In July 1888, he purchased Tesla's patents for $60,000 plus a royalty agreement of $2.50 per horsepower of electric power produced. This royalty arrangement had the potential to make Tesla one of the wealthiest individuals globally, though it never fully materialized.
Westinghouse later established the first hydroelectric power plant at Niagara Falls in the mid-1890s. On November 16, 1896, this plant successfully transmitted AC electric power 42 kilometers to Buffalo, New York, definitively proving the practicality of Tesla's polyphase AC system.
Sacrifice and Legacy
When the Westinghouse Electric Company encountered financial difficulties due to competitive pressures, George Westinghouse was compelled to renegotiate the royalty agreement with Tesla. In a remarkable act of gratitude, Tesla tore up the contract in 1891, relinquishing royalties that could have made him a millionaire, to help save Westinghouse's company. Tesla acknowledged that Westinghouse had believed in his AC system and realized it through the Niagara Falls power plant.
This historical journey paved the way for the polyphase AC electricity that powers electric plants worldwide today. Modern society relies on continuous 24/7 electricity distribution to homes, making it an integral part of daily life. A prolonged power outage, such as one lasting a month, would cause significant economic losses, severe discomfort especially in urban areas, and potentially fatal consequences for hospital patients dependent on electrical medical devices.
The Overlooked Genius
Despite the fascinating story of the War of Currents, textbooks often mention Edison more frequently than Tesla regarding electric power generation. In physics education, Tesla is seldom referenced or only briefly noted.
This oversight may stem from the physics community's historical reluctance to embrace Tesla. In 1892, Tesla visited Heinrich Hertz in Bonn, Germany, to discuss his high-frequency electricity findings and demonstrate his improved apparatus. Hertz, who had experimentally proven electromagnetic waves foundational to wireless communication, was reportedly disappointed with his own work, leaving Tesla regretful about the visit.
Additionally, Tesla developed alternative theories on wireless transmission and was highly critical of Einstein's Theory of Relativity. He rejected the concept of curved space, arguing philosophically that "attributing properties to space is akin to suggesting nothingness can act upon something." These unconventional views may have contributed to his marginalized legacy in mainstream scientific discourse.
