Power transmission

Power transmission is the movement of energy from its place of generation to a location where
it is applied to perform useful work.

Power is defined formally as units of energy per unit time. In SI units:

Since the development of technology, transmission and storage systems have been of immense
interest to technologists and technology users.

Contents
Electrical power
Mechanical power
Thermal power
Chemicals and fuels
See also
References

Electrical power
With the widespread establishment of electrical grids, power
transmission is usually associated most with electric power
transmission. Alternating current is normally preferred as its
voltage may be easily stepped up by a transformer in order to
minimize resistive loss in the conductors used to transmit
power over great distances; another set of transformers is
required to step it back down to safer or more usable voltage
levels at destination.

Power transmission is Electric power transmission with

usually performed with overhead line.
overhead lines as this is the
most economical way to do
Electric power transmission with
so. Underground transmission by high-voltage cables is chosen
underground cable. Here (1) is the
in crowded urban areas and in high-voltage direct-current
conductor for heavy currents and (3)
(HVDC) submarine connections.
the insulation for high voltages.
Power might also be transmitted by changing electromagnetic
fields or by radio waves; microwave energy may be carried
efficiently over short distances by a waveguide or in free space via wireless power transfer.

Mechanical power
Electrical power transmission has replaced mechanical power
transmission in all but the very shortest distances.

From the 16th century through the industrial revolution to the

end of the 19th century, mechanical power transmission was
the norm. The oldest long-distance power transmission
technology involved systems of push-rods or jerker lines
(stängenkunst or feldstängen) connecting waterwheels to
distant mine-drainage and brine-well pumps.[1] A surviving
example from 1780 exists at Bad Kösen that transmits power
approximately 200 meters from a waterwheel to a salt well,
and from there, an additional 150 meters to a brine
evaporator.[2] This technology survived into the 21st century in
a handful of oilfields in the US, transmitting power from a
central pumping engine to the numerous pump-jacks in the oil
field.[3]
Mechanical power transmission
Mechanical power may be transmitted directly using a solid
structure such as a driveshaft; transmission gears can adjust
the amount of torque or force vs. speed in much the same way an electrical transformer adjusts
voltage vs current. Factories were fitted with overhead line shafts providing rotary power. Short
line-shaft systems were described by Agricola, connecting a waterwheel to numerous ore-
processing machines.[4] While the machines described by Agricola used geared connections from
the shafts to the machinery, by the 19th century, drivebelts would become the norm for linking
individual machines to the line shafts. One mid 19th century factory had 1,948 feet of line shafting
with 541 pulleys.[5]

Hydraulic systems use liquid under pressure to transmit power; canals and hydroelectric power
generation facilities harness natural water power to lift ships or generate electricity. Pumping
water or pushing mass uphill with (windmill pumps) is one possible means of energy storage.
London had a hydraulic network powered by five pumping stations operated by the London
Hydraulic Power Company, with a total effect of 5 MW.

Pneumatic systems use gasses under pressure to transmit power; compressed air is commonly
used to operate pneumatic tools in factories and repair garages. A pneumatic wrench (for instance)
is used to remove and install automotive tires far more quickly than could be done with standard
manual hand tools. A pneumatic system was proposed by proponents of Edison's direct current as
the basis of the power grid. Compressed air generated at Niagara Falls would drive far away
generators of DC power. The war of the currents ended with alternating current (AC) as the only
means of long distance power transmission.

Thermal power
Thermal power can be transported in pipelines containing a high heat capacity fluid such as oil or
water as used in district heating systems, or by physically transporting material items, such as
bottle cars, or in the ice trade.

Chemicals and fuels

While not technically power transmission, energy is commonly transported by shipping chemical
or nuclear fuels. Possible artificial fuels include radioactive isotopes, wood alcohol, grain alcohol,
methane, synthetic gas, hydrogen gas (H2), cryogenic gas, and liquefied natural gas (LNG).
See also
Distributed generation
List of energy storage projects

References
1. Dianne Newell, Technological Innovation and Persistence in the Ontario Oilfields: Some
Evidence from Industrial Archaeology (https://www.jstor.org/pss/124651), World Archaeology
15, 2, Industrial Archaeology (Oct., 1983), pp. 184-195
2. Michael Pfefferkorn, Der Solschacht von Bad Kösen und sein Feldgestänge (https://www.untert
age.com/publikationen/18-thueringen/56-der-solschacht-von-bad-koesen-und-sein-feldgestaen
ge.html), Grubenarchäologischen Gesellschaft, 2004.
3. Keith Kinney, The last two oil leases in Illinois using a central power and rod lines -- Powered
by 35 H.P. Superior Oil Field Engines, Flat Rock, Illinois (https://web.archive.org/web/20110711
163322/http://www.herculesengines.com/FlatRock/), 2003
4. Georgius Agricola, De re metallica, 1556. See "book 8 figure 22" (https://archive.today/201206
30225125/http://www.btinternet.com/~stephen.henley/agricola/book8/book8-22.jpg). Archived
from the original (http://www.btinternet.com/~stephen.henley/agricola/book8/book8-22.jpg) on
2012-06-30.
5. The United States Magazine of Science, Art, Manufactures, Agriculture, Commerce and Trade
(https://books.google.com/books?id=I-0RAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA164), Vol. 2, 1856, page 164.

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