EE421

1
EE421

• Electrical Engr. Dept.
• University of Idaho
• Historical Perspective of
• Electric Power

2
Introduction

• Electric Power Grid is the largest physical
  system built by man
• Understanding its history is important Someone
  who does not appreciate his ancestors should not
  be surprised if his descendents return the favor.
• Interconnected power systems began in 1879

3
First Small dc System

• Edison at Menlo Park, NJ in 1879
• Newburgh, NY 1880
• Edison had just invented the light bulb and Gramm
  has just perfected the first dc generators (and
  motors)
• By 1882, Manhattan has 14,000 incandescent lamps
  in 900 buildings dc, 3 wire (220/110)
• Edison formed The General Electric Company to
  control it.

4
The Beginnings of AC

• Stanley invented the transformer in 1885 as an
  employee of Westinghouse
• Tesla invents the induction motor and the
  synchronous machine in 1887, also as Westinghouse
  employee
• First AC system in the mines of Fort Collins,
  Colorado, to provide hydropower to pump out water

5
The Race to Niagara

• Westinghouse got the contract and built ac
  generation in 1892
• Started nearly 20 years of commercial warfare
  with Edison
• It was a nasty fight that Westinghouse and the
  superior AC technology won in 1910
• The transformer was the key invention (and still
  is!)

6
Steinmetz

• Mathematician at Westinghouse
• Mathematical method using complex algebra to
  express AC phenomena (vice trig functions)
• This made large interconnected power systems
  possible with computation and control of the day

7
Local Utilities

• 1910-1930 Local utilities began in urban areas
• Expanded until borders met
• Interconnection became desirable
• Had to solve frequency standard (16.7, 25, 50,
  60, 125, 133 Hz)
• Steam turbines optimized at 60 Hz using available
  technology. Light flicker was also an issue.

8
The REA

• Rural Electrification Act of 1930 brought
  electricity to rural areas
• Subsidized formerly unprofitable areas between
  utilities
• Incentive for more interconnection
• WW II put this on hold somewhat
• By 1953, interconnection extended from the
  Atlantic to Great Plains
• The West, less Texas, completed interconnection
  in 1962.

9
Inventions

• 1899 Fluorescent light bulb
• 1904 Tungsten filament
• 1934 Babbage--digital computer
• 1957 Silicon Controlled Rectifier (enabled HVDC
  transmission)
• 1965 NYC blackout led to better control methods

10
World Events

• The availability of affordable energy is the
  basic element of an industrialized society.
• Utilities are more influenced by world events
  than we may like
• NYC blackout 1965, 1977, and 2003
• Earth Day, April 22, 1970, marked the rise of the
  environmental movement
• Energy crisis,1973 energy prices rose tenfold
• Inflation raised the prime rate from 10 in 1974
  to 20 in 1979. Combined with environmental
  delays, this killed US nuke power

11
Deregulation

• 1977 PURPA encourages cogeneration
• 1984 Bell System broken up
• 1991 Public Utility Deregulation Act began to
  force deregulation.
• 1995 California begins deregulation. Lots of
  growing pains. Others deregulate, but with less
  publicity.

12
The future

• Potential to be the most rapidly changing
  industry in the next 10 years.
• Lots of opportunity
• Rapidly changing environment
• Entrepreneurial opportunities
• Now hiring!
• Government involvement