We are living in a world of technology where everything is becoming smarter and interconnected. Today we are going to look at seven wonders of electrical engineering that have made it possible for us to live the life that we are living. Check out the following inventions and let us know what you think of it;
AC – Alternating Current
The idea for the alternating current was conceived by Nikola Tesla. He presented a paper on it in 1888. AC is used on a daily basis by us – the power that is being delivered to our homes via electrical lines is delivered in the form of AC. The AC is much more efficient as opposed to the direct current when it comes to long-distance travel. Thanks to AC, we were able to provide electricity long distance and made it possible for electricity to become a commodity that was readily available.
The Transformer
No, not the Optimus Prime vs. Megatron movie. The transformer is a crucial component that has helped us achieve a plethora of accomplishments. The transformers are able to transfer electrical energy from one circuit to another without the need of these circuits to be in contact with one another. The phenomenon used by the transformer is called electrical induction.
They are basically employed for the sake of varying the voltage of the incoming current. If the output voltage is higher than the input voltage, the transformer is called a step-up transformer. On the other hand, if the output voltage is less than the input; the transformer is called a step-down transformer. The first transformer was created by Ottó Bláthy, Miksa Déri, and Károly Zipernowsky. However, the first commercially feasible transformer was built by William Stanley in 1886.
The Electric Motor
For the developing world, the applications of electricity were not limited to just the lighting bulb but also included facilitating the industries to prosper and grow at an accelerated rate. The electric motors played a vital role in such developments, and have remained relevant as they have also found their use in electric vehicles. The electric motors carry out the conversion of electrical energy into mechanical energy. The electric motor was able to replace the steam engines from factories and all other major industries without breaking a sweat. The DC motor was the fruition of the efforts of Frank Julian in 1886 whereas the AC motor was put forth by Nikola Tesla in 1887.
Solar Panels
Solar energy really stepped out into the light during the late 2000s, but the principle behind the technology was presented by Edmond Becquerel in 1839 upon discovery of photovoltaic effect. As of now, solar cells are being used quite extensively throughout the world. The Tengger Desert Solar Plant can create an output of 1547 MW in ideal conditions and is the world’s largest solar plant.
Hydro-electric generator
You can create electricity by different methods, and among those methods, a common method is by making use of a hydro-electric generator. The hydroelectric power plants are famous because they do not result in the creation of any wasteful byproduct as is the case with nuclear plants. They also rely on a renewable source for the creation of electrical energy. The very first hydroelectric generator that was put to commercial use started operating in 1882 at Fox River, Wisconsin.
The Three Gorges Dam
The Three Gorges Dam relies on hydroelectric power generation. So, why is it on this list? That is because of its size and the engineering that was put into play for building it. It is the world’s largest power station capable of producing around 22,500 MW of energy.
The dam was built on the Yangtze River in China and has a length of 2335 meters. The dam’s construction as completed on 4th July 2012 and had recovered its full cost by the end of 2013.
The Electric Bulb
Ah yes, the incandescent bulb that was brought to life by Edison and his team. The light bulb found its way into the market in 1880 and has revolutionized how we spend our nights.