Insulation by Refrigeration

Nikola Tesla’s Method for Carrying High-Tension Electrical Currents for Great Distances — Remarkable Machine for Wireless Work — Exploitation of Enormous Water Powers — Electrical Energy from This Source the Most Effective.

Nikola Tesla is an optimist on electrical power, according to his review of the work done in 1904, in the Electrical World and Engineer. In regard to long-distance transmission of power, he says:

“In transportation a great change is now going on. The trolley lines are being extended, the steam locomotive is making place for the electric motor. The ocean liners are adopting the turbine. Land travel is being improved by the automobile. The waterfalls are being harnessed, and the energy used in the propulsion of cars. The advantages of first generating electricity by a prime mover, and then applying the current to produce mechanical motion, are being more and more appreciated. To the majority, this may appear a roundabout way of doing, but in reality it is as direct as the driving of a pulley from another by a belt. The idea is already being applied to railroads, and automobiles of this new type are making their appearance. The ocean vessels are bound to follow. An immense and virgin field will be thus opened up to the manufacturers of electric machinery. Effort towards saving time and money is characteristic of all modern methods of transportation.

“In many of these new developments, the artificial insulation of the high-tension mains by refrigeration will be very useful. However paradoxical, it is true, that by the use of this invention, power for all industrial purposes can be transmitted to distances of many hundreds of miles, not only without any loss, but with appreciable gain of energy. This is due to the fact that the conductor is much colder than the surrounding medium. The operativeness of this method is restricted to the use of a gaseous refrigerant, no known liquid permitting the attainment of a sufficiently low temperature of the transmission line. Hydrogen is by far the best cooling agent to employ. By its use electric railways can be extended to any desired distance. Owing to the smallness of ohmic loss, the objections to the multiphase system disappear and induction motors with closed-coil armatures can be adopted. I find that even transmission through a submarine cable, as from Sweden to England, of great amounts of power is perfectly practicable. But the ideal solution of the problem of transportation will be arrived at only when the complete annihilation of distance in the transmission of power in large amounts shall have become a commercial reality. That day we shall invade the domain of the bird. When the vexing problem of aerial navigation, which has defied his attempts for ages, is solved, man will advance with giant strides.

ENERGY TRANSMITTED WITHOUT WIRES

“That electrical energy can be economically transmitted without wires to any terrestrial distance, I have unmistakably established in numerous observations, experiments, and measurements, qualitative and quantitative. These have demonstrated that it is practicable to distribute power from a central plant in unlimited amounts, with a loss not exceeding a small fraction of 1 per cent. in the transmission, even to the greatest distance, 12,000 miles—to the opposite end of the globe. This seemingly impossible feat can now be readily performed by any electrician familiar with the design and construction of my ‘high-potential magnifying transmitter,’ the most marvellous electrical apparatus of which I have knowledge, enabling the production of effects of unlimited intensities in the earth and its ambient atmosphere.

“It is, essentially, a freely vibrating secondary circuit of definite length, very high self-induction, and small resistance, which has one of its terminals in intimate direct or inductive connection with the ground and the other with an elevated conductor, and upon which the electrical oscillations of a primary or exciting circuit are impressed under conditions of resonance. To give an idea of the capabilities of this wonderful appliance, I may state that I have obtained, by its means, spark discharges extending through more than 100 feet and carrying currents of 1,000 amperes, electromotive forces approximating 20,000,000 volts, chemically active streamers covering areas of several thousand square feet, and electrical disturbances in the natural media surpassing those caused by lightning in intensity.

“Whatever the future may bring, the universal application of these great principles is fully assured, though it may be long in coming. With the opening of the first power plant, incredulity will give way to wonderment, and this to ingratitude, as ever before. The time is not distant when the energy of falling water will be man’s life energy. So far only about 3,000,000 horse-power have been harnessed by my system of alternating-current transmission. This is little, but corresponds, nevertheless, to the adding of 60,000,000 indefatigable laborers, working virtually without food and pay, to the world’s population.

“The projects which have come to my own attention, however, contemplate the exploitation of waterpowers aggregating something like 150,000,000 horse-power. Should they be carried out in a quarter of a century, as seems probable from present indications, there will be, on the average two such untiring laborers for every individual. Long before this consummation, coal and oil must cease to be important factors in the sustenance of human life on this planet. It should be borne in mind that electrical energy obtained by harnessing a waterfall is probably fifty times more effective than fuel energy. Since this is the most perfect way of rendering the sun’s energy available, the direction of the future material development of man is clearly indicated. He will live on ‘white coal.’ Like a babe to the mother’s breast will he cling to his waterfall. ‘Give us our daily waterfall,’ will be the prayer of the coming generations. Deus futurus est deus aquae dejectus.”