Nikola Tesla, in the year 1987 filed several series of patents that touched on everything that was needed to generate electricity by use of alternating current (AC). Tesla pointed out all the inefficiencies of direct current (DC) electrical power house by Edison. The secret to pinpointing this lay in the innovation of alternative current. According to him, alternative current provided cyclic energies and could send electrical energy first one way along distribution lines using multiple waves by use of polyphase principle. Prior to his inventing of AC could be converted into one point direction using inefficient device referred as commentator; this could result in immense loss of energy and generators could only transport power over short distances and could only be used in illuminating homes (Tesla, 2002).
Nikola Tesla came up with polyphase alternating current generator, transformers and motor systems. With this he held forty American patents on this system. This resulted in a war between Tesla’s Alternative current and Edison’s Direct Current. This culminated in the success of Tesla because Alternative Current was superior in technology. Tesla’s electrical and motor system impressed inventor and industrialist George Westinghouse In his laboratory, Tesla constructed a model polyphase system that consisted of alternating current dynamo, AC motor and step up-step down transformer. Westinghouse developed interest in Tesla’s work and they partnered together (Dommermuth-Costa, 1994).
Tesla also discovered a rotating magnetic field; this was considered as a fundamental principle of physics and which formed the basis of all devices that used alternating current. Tesla adopted the rotating magnetic field principle in the construction of alternating current induction motor and polyphase system. This was instrumental in the generation, distribution and transmission of electrical power. The Alternative Current induction motor that was developed by Tesla is used throughout the world in both household and industry appliances. It sparked the industrial revolution and the electricity that is used today is converted and transmitted to mechanical power by use of alternating current. The greatest achievement that Tesla is remembered for is the polyphase alternating current system; this is widely used today in lighting (Dommermuth-Costa, 1994).
In his demonstration at the World Columbian Expo in Chicago, he astonished the world by the wonders of AC current electricity. AC became the standard electricity power of the 20th century. Tesla’s accomplishment changed the world. Tesla is further remembered for designing the pioneer hydroelectric power plant in the Niagara Falls. This was considered as the final and last victory of AC. Tesla also constructed an instrument that could receive radio waves. This device was fitted with magnetic fields and this marked his priority in radio discovery. His concept of wireless electricity was the one used in the powering of ocean liners, running industry, sending and transporting communication instantly and destroying war ships. The wireless electricity can also be used for interplanetary communication (Dommermuth-Costa, 1994).
Tesla is considered as a pioneer in many fields. Tesla coil that he invented in 1891 is the one that is commonly and mostly used in television and radio sets and in other electrical appliances today. His AC current induction motor is considered among the ten all time discoveries. Among the other discoveries that she is known for are: Fluorescent light, wireless communication, laser beam, wireless electricity transmission, robotics, vertical takeoff aircraft, Tesla turbine and remote control. Tesla is, therefore, considered as the father of radio and the modern electrical transmission systems (Tesla, 2002).
References
Dommermuth-Costa, C. (1994). Nikola Tesla: A spark of genius. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications Co.
Tesla, N., & Anderson, L. I. (2002). Nikola Tesla on his work with alternating currents and their application to wireless telegraphy, telephony, and transmission of power: An extended interview. Breckenridge, Colo: Twenty-First Century Books.
