Post by Zadkiel on Aug 7, 2016 11:25:25 GMT
First, there was a hand-cranked AC generator developed by Hippolyte Pixii in 1832. Single phase AC power was being used more in Europe by many inventors in the early 1880s. As early as the late 1870's, Germany had developed a crude 2 phase AC generator. Galileo Ferraris, a scientist in Italy, started talking openly about polyphase AC in 1885, one year later Tesla approached investors with his version of an AC system, but did not succeed in generating interest. Ferraris also inspired Thomson at Thomson-Houston and engineers at Westinghouse to investigate the system; however there was little confidence among investors in AC power at the time.
From a world perspective, there were many people working on AC systems over the next few years. August Haselwander and C.S. Bradley (a former Edison employee) created the first 3 phase AC generators (1887). Mikhail Dolivo-Dobrovolsky built the first full 3 phase AC generation and distribution system in the 1888-1891 period. Tesla, to his credit, was able to inspire Westinghouse to jump into AC, but very quickly, Tesla's two-phase system was made obsolete by three phase systems which could more efficiently send power farther. The fact is that like today, there were many people working on cutting edge technology and if Tesla had not gotten Westinghouse's attention in 1888, Westinghouse would have bought patents from others. Thomson was close to innovation on the AC system as well and the world would be no different without Tesla, it may have just taken another year for polyphase to get adopted by Westinghouse or Elihu Thomson's company.
From a world perspective, there were many people working on AC systems over the next few years. August Haselwander and C.S. Bradley (a former Edison employee) created the first 3 phase AC generators (1887). Mikhail Dolivo-Dobrovolsky built the first full 3 phase AC generation and distribution system in the 1888-1891 period. Tesla, to his credit, was able to inspire Westinghouse to jump into AC, but very quickly, Tesla's two-phase system was made obsolete by three phase systems which could more efficiently send power farther. The fact is that like today, there were many people working on cutting edge technology and if Tesla had not gotten Westinghouse's attention in 1888, Westinghouse would have bought patents from others. Thomson was close to innovation on the AC system as well and the world would be no different without Tesla, it may have just taken another year for polyphase to get adopted by Westinghouse or Elihu Thomson's company.
