International Electrotechnical Exhibition
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The 1891 International Electrotechnical Exhibition was held between 16 May and 19 October on the disused site of the three former Westbahnhöfe (
History
The "Elektrotechnische Gesellschaft" (Electrotechnical Society) was founded in Frankfurt in 1881 with the aim of promoting electricity and, in particular, furthering research into its application for industry and technology. Three years later, some ten manufacturers of electrical equipment had set themselves up in the city. In around 1890, some of the enterprises were established which would later become major firms in Frankfurt: Hartmann & Braun, Staudt & Voigt (from 1891 Voigt & Haefner) and W Lahmeyer & Co (from 1893 Elektrizitäts-AG, previously W Lahmeyer & Co). And it was in Frankfurt that the "second
Prompted by the Paris "
As far as Germany was concerned, the International Electrotechnical Exhibition settled once and for all the question of the most economical means of transmitting electrical energy. When the exhibition closed, the power station at Lauffen continued in operation – providing electricity for the administrative capital, Heilbronn, thus making it the first place to be equipped with a power supply using three-phase AC. The name of the local power company (ZEAG) bears testimony to this event. The Frankfurt city council constructed its own power station near the harbour; yet another was built by a private company in the suburb of Bockenheim.
Equipment
A hydraulic turbine at Lauffen powered a three-phase alternator with a revolving field. The alternator revolved at 150 revolutions per minute, and had a rotating field magnet with 32 poles. It was rated at 300 hp and had a terminal voltage of 55 volts. The frequency of the current was 40 Hz. Power from the alternator was stepped up to 8000 volts for transmission by oil-insulated transformers. Later tests were carried out with transmission voltage up to 25,000 volts (between phases).
The
Overall efficiency from turbine to load was an average of 75%, which resolved many doubts of the practicality of long-distance electric power transmission.[2]
Gallery
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Entrance to the exhibition
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Distinguished visitors at the power station: photograph by Oskar von Miller. Among others: Karl von Leibbrand, Emil Rathenau, Marcel Deprez, Gisbert Kapp, Dr. John Hopkinson, Charles Brown, Emil Huber, and the telecommunications pioneer William Henry Preece, who would later be knighted.
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Waterfall powered by a 100 HP Pump
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Three-phase motor with associated pump behind the artificial waterfall. The map shows the route of the overhead cable, which followed approximately that of a railway line. There were some 3,000 masts, 9,000 oil insulators and 60 tonnes of (4 mm)-diameter copper wire.
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Lithograph showing the pump and transformer house behind the waterfall
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Power station at Lauffen where current was generated
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Three-phase generator at the Lauffen power station
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The exhibition featured the first ascents for passengers in a tethered balloon
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Official poster
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Exhibition site
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Stand ofSiemens & Halske
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Stand of Helios AG
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Postcard on sale for the (then) princely sum of 5 pfennigs
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Postage stamp marking the 100th anniversary of the transmission of electricity
See also
References
- ISSN 2080-8593.
- ^ * Silvanus P. Thompson, Polyphase Electric Currents and Alternate-Current Motors, E. & F. N. Spon, London 1895. Thompson gives a detailed description of the Lauffen and Frankfurt machines on pages 27–33, with illustrations. The transmission system is described on pages 106–110
Bibliography
- Jürgen Steen (Hg.): "Eine neue Zeit ..!", Die Internationale Elektrotechnische Ausstellung 1891. Frankfurt am Main 1991 (Ausstellungskatalog Historisches Museum Frankfurt am Main), ISBN 3-89282-022-8
- Horst A. Wessel (Hg.): Moderne Energie für eine neue Zeit, siebtes VDE-Kolloquium am 3. und 4. September 1991 anlässlich der VDE-Jubiläumsveranstaltung "100 Jahre Drehstrom" in Frankfurt am Main (= Geschichte der Elektrotechnik, Bd.11). Berlin/Offenbach 1991, ISBN 3-8007-1813-8
- Volker Rödel: Fabrikarchitektur in Frankfurt am Main 1774–1924, Frankfurt 1986, S.30f., ISBN 3-7973-0435-8
- Sabine Hock: Mehr Licht für Frankfurt, Oskar von Miller brachte Frankfurt auf den Weg zur Elektrifizierung, Wochendienst Nr. 16 vom 26.04.2005, hg. v. Presse- und Informationsamt der Stadt Frankfurt am Main
External links
- Media related to International Electro-Technical Exhibition - 1891 at Wikimedia Commons