Why and how alternating current?

Question

I understand AC travels better than DC. Why? I understand that alternating faster is better? Why? How do they make honest, God-fearing elictricity alternate?

Answer 1

An alternating current (AC) is an electrical current whose magnitude and direction vary cyclically, as opposed to direct current, whose direction remains constant. The usual waveform of an AC power circuit is a sine wave, as this results in the most efficient transmission of energy. However in certain applications different waveforms are used, such as triangular or square waves.

Used generically, AC refers to the form in which electricity is delivered to businesses and residences. However, audio and radio signals carried on electrical wire are also examples of alternating current. In these applications, an important goal is often the recovery of information encoded (or modulated) onto the AC signal.

AC voltage can be stepped up or down by a transformer to a different voltage. Modern High-voltage, direct current electric power transmission systems contrast with the more common alternating-current systems as a means for the bulk transmission of electrical power over long distances. However, these tend to be more expensive and less efficient than transformers, and did not exist when Edison, Westinghouse and Tesla were designing their power systems.

Use of a higher voltage leads to significantly more efficient transmission of power. The power losses in a conductor are a product of the square of the current and the resistance of the conductor, described by the formula . This means that when transmitting a fixed power on a given wire, if the current is doubled, the power loss will be four times greater. Since the power transmitted is equal to the product of the current, the voltage and the cosine of the phase difference φ (P = IVcosφ), the same amount of power can be transmitted with a lower current by increasing the voltage. Therefore it is advantageous when transmitting large amounts of power to distribute the power with high voltages (often hundreds of kilovolts). However, high voltages also have disadvantages, the main ones being the increased insulation required, and generally increased difficulty in their safe handling. In a power plant, power is generated at a convenient voltage for the design of a generator, and then stepped up to a high voltage for transmission. Near the loads, the transmission voltage is stepped down to the voltages used by equipment. Consumer voltages vary depending on the country and size of load, but generally motors and lighting are built to use up to a few hundred volts between phases.

Three-phase electrical generation is very common. Three separate coils in the generator stator are physically offset by an angle of 120° to each other. Three current waveforms are produced that are equal in magnitude and 120° out of phase to each other.

If the load on a three-phase system is balanced equally between the phases, no current flows through the neutral point. Even in the worst-case unbalanced (linear) load, the neutral current will not exceed the highest of the phase currents. For three-phase at low (normal mains) voltages a four-wire system is normally used. When stepping down three-phase, a transformer with a Delta primary and a Star secondary is often used so there is no need for a neutral on the supply side.

For smaller customers (just how small varies by country and age of the installation) only a single phase and the neutral or two phases and the neutral are taken to the property. For larger installations all three phases and the neutral are taken to the main distribution panel. From the three-phase main panel, both single and three-phase circuits may lead off.

Three-wire single phase systems, with a single centre-tapped transformer giving two live conductors, is a common distribution scheme for residential and small commercial buildings in North America. A similar method is used for a different reason on construction sites in the UK. Small power tools and lighting are supposed to be supplied by a local center-tapped transformer with a voltage of 55V between each power conductor and the earth. This significantly reduces the risk of electric shock in the event that one of the live conductors becomes exposed through an equipment fault whilst still allowing a reasonable voltage for running the tools.

A third wire is often connected between non-current carrying metal enclosures and earth ground. This conductor provides protection from electrical shock due to accidental contact of circuit conductors with the case of portable appliances and tool.

Answer 2

DC at a specific voltage is more efficient than AC, but as the other answer says, it is much easier to change the level of AC and DC.
Alternating Current (AC) is easy to generate, you can do it by swinging a magnet near a wire. As it goes in and out it will producing an increasing and decreasing current.

Answer 3

I think one main key is that wires (transmission lines) have resistance. If the resistance is 1ohm/mile, then in 10 miles you have 10ohms. In essence what you need for power is current, and in 10 miles you have 1/10th of the power you had when you started.

So if you start with only 12v then after 10 miles you will have 1.2v. The answer is to start with high voltages. With transformers AC power can easily be jumped up to very high voltages, but there is no easy way to step up DC voltages like that.

The other reason we use AC voltage is that generators are basically electric motors turned backwards. The generators make AC current, so we would actually have to convert it to DC if we wanted to transmit in DC.

Answer 4

AC power is easier to transmit over long distances because it can be easily transformed into high voltages which minimize voltage drops on the lines. It can likewise be transformed back down to more usable voltages such as 480 and 120 volts.

Answer 5

I honestly don't know the inspiration behind my favorite bands name and why they named it that way. but I have a musical project that I am working on and if I can find some musicians that don't need a life time supply of head and shoulders because they are so falkey it might be a possible success. if that happens I am going to call it "Habitual Morbidity" inspired by a couple of my ex GFs tell me that I can be a sick and evil fu** sometimes and that I don't even realize as if it is just habit. Seriously, that's the inspiration.

Answer 6

ac travels in both directions alternateing