Alternating Current Polyphase System

The Alternating Current Induction Motor would be incomplete without the companion polyphase system to drive it. This system encompasses the complete power generation and delivery system, including alternators to generate the power and transformers to step up the voltage for long-distance transmission and then step it back down for distribution.

Tesla's alternating current (AC) polyphase system, developed in the late 1880s, revolutionized power distribution by using multiple phases of AC to transmit electricity efficiently over long distances. This system included generators, transformers, and motors that allowed voltage to be stepped up for transmission and down for use, overcoming the limitations of direct current (DC) systems promoted by Edison.

Licensed to Westinghouse, it powered the 1893 Chicago World's Fair and became the global standard for electrical grids. The polyphase approach enabled balanced power delivery, reducing losses and enabling widespread electrification, fundamentally shaping modern infrastructure.