Title: Transformers and Their Roles
Course: WGF 107 DEVELOPMENT > Section: Content

Content | The invention of transformers during the late 1800s enabled long distance, cheaper, and energy efficient transmission, distribution, and utilization of electrical energy. In the early days of commercial electric power, the main energy source was direct current (DC), which operates at relatively low-voltage and high-current. According to Joule's Law, energy losses are directly proportional to the square of the current. This law revealed that even a tiny decrease in current or rise in voltage can cause a substantial lowering in energy losses and costs. Thus, the historical pursuit for a high voltage low current electricity transmission system took shape. Although high voltage transmission systems offered many benefits, the future fate of high-voltage alternating current remained unclear for several reasons: high-voltage sources had a much higher risk of causing severe electrical injuries. Many essential appliances could only function at low voltage. Regarded as one of the most influential electrical innovations of all time, the introduction of transformers had successfully reduced the safety concerns associated with alternating current and had the ability to lower voltage to the value required by most essential appliances.^[3]
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