Electricity is something that we need everyday. We utilize it to charge our phones, light our houses and businesses, and keep vital equipment going. Here are the methods Power Transmissions Austin get from the utility company to our homes.
High Strung
Possibly the most common way electricity travels is by power lines. Alternating Current, or AC, power is taken from lower voltage to a higher one and it travels through wires suspended from poles high in the air. They are lifted to keep people from getting injured. Once the power arrives, the voltage is lowered and put into the power grid to distributed to homes. While it is a popular option, a significant amount of energy is lost in this method.
Through the Water
A Direct Current transfer, or DC, is one single cable from one point to another. It is more efficient than AC and can carry twice the voltage. It can be strung underwater connecting one land mass to another. DC also loses less power when it is transmitted.
Wireless Power
Another method of power transfer happens wirelessly. Two objects are put in proximity of each other and electricity is passed by electromagnets from one to the other. In near-field technology, coils or wires create the fields. A great example in your home would be an electric toothbrush. Far-field techniques shoot the electromagnetic fields by radiation waves. Nicoli Tesla did a great amount of research in this.
Superconductors
When power is sent through superconductors, it is being transported with little resistance. These cables are typically buried underground, especially in urban areas. One benefit to this method electricity can flow when the temperatures are cold with little restriction while typically power moves poorly when the temperature changes. Superconductors are also used to transmit data in computer systems and in transportation applications.