Writer 1879: Solitary Journey in France

Chapter 358 Direct current has no future!

On a weekend in mid-May 1881, the city of Paris was already sweltering, and even the Seine seemed to flow languidly.

However, the situation was quite different at Lionel's summer villa in Vernef.

The area is situated on higher ground, shaded by lush trees, and enjoys a cool breeze blowing in from a tributary of the Seine, keeping out the hustle and bustle of Paris.

In the backyard of the villa "Land of Light," under the shade of trees, Lionel was enjoying afternoon tea with Pierre Curie and Henri Poincaré at a garden table.

The lemonade and freshly baked butter cookies that Patty prepared temporarily dispelled the afternoon drowsiness.

Pierre Curie put down his teacup and asked curiously, "So, 'Sorel Electric'... Lionel, I still find it incredible."

How did you, a literary figure, suddenly develop such a strong interest in the electrical business? You even managed to recruit Nikola Tesla!
I've heard that all electrical engineers today greatly admire Edison and consider joining his company or laboratory the highest honor.

Henri Poincaré was also curious: "You've also taken over almost all the engineers from the Edison Electric Light Company in Paris. Edison probably won't be too happy about that."

Lionel leaned back lazily in his chair, a smile playing on his lips.

The early summer sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled light on his face.

He said slowly, "I currently have renovation contracts for four theaters, each requiring at least a thousand electric lights. How many theaters are there in France?"

In the past six months, Edison Paris has installed less than two thousand lamps. I think those engineers are all very good at math and know how to calculate the accounts in their own best interest.

Tesla... actually, convincing him wasn't difficult. I only used one sentence.

Pierre Curie sat up straight, eagerly pressing for an answer: "A single sentence? What sentence has such power?"

Just as Lionel was about to speak, footsteps came from the courtyard; it was Sophie.

She was wearing an elegant summer dress, and a few strands of hair on her forehead were blown by the breeze: "Leon, Mr. Nikola Tesla has arrived."

Lionel immediately stood up and smiled at Pierre Curie, saying, "Look, he's here. Let him tell you himself."

He strode towards the courtyard gate to greet them.

A short while later, Lionel led in a tall, thin young man.

The young man looked somewhat reserved, but his deep-set eyes were unusually bright.

Lionel led him to the table: “Nicolas, welcome. This is Mr. Pierre Curie, and this is Henri Poincaré.”

They are accomplished in both physics and mathematics, and they are also our engineers!

After a brief greeting, Nikola Tesla's gaze immediately locked onto Pierre Curie, and he instantly radiated excitement and admiration.

He almost rushed forward, grasped Pierre Curie's outstretched hand tightly, and said in a trembling voice, "Mr. Curie! It's such an honor!"

I have read your and your brother Jacques's recent paper on the 'piezoelectric effect' many times!

That was a groundbreaking discovery that will have an immeasurable impact on the future of electricity!

Pierre Curie was somewhat embarrassed by the other party's enthusiasm and high praise for the value of their research.

He adjusted his glasses and replied modestly, "You flatter me, Mr. Tesla. It was just a chance discovery by my brother and me while exploring natural phenomena."

After exchanging pleasantries, the group sat down again.

Pierre Curie hadn't forgotten the topic from earlier: "Nicolas, Lionel said he impressed you with just one sentence, which led you to leave the Edison Company."

We were really curious, what exactly was it that could move such a talented engineer?

Nikola Tesla smiled slightly shyly, glanced at Lionel, and then said, "Mr. Sorel came to me and said—"

"Direct current has no future; alternating current is the future!" Pierre Curie was stunned, and Henri Poincaré leaned forward involuntarily.

The latter quickly turned to Lionel: "Alternating current is the future? Lionel, why are you so sure?"
As far as I know, Edison was promoting his direct current (DC) system, and DC power plants were being built in London, Paris, and even New York.

Lionel didn't answer directly, but instead raised his hand and pointed to a faint column of smoke that was barely visible on the distant horizon—

"See that plume of smoke? It's about two kilometers from here. It's a DC power plant belonging to the Edison Electric Light Company. My house lights are powered by it."

Leonard paused for a moment before continuing, "That's the biggest limitation of direct current. Its voltage drops with distance, and the power loss is astonishing."

This effectively limits the power supply range to within two kilometers. Beyond this distance, the voltage is too low, causing the bulbs to dim or even fail to light up.

Lionel shrugged: "Imagine that to power a big city like Paris, we would need to build a power plant every two kilometers."

By then, the skies over Paris will be filled with more power plant chimneys than church spires, and we will all be living in a thicker cloud of coal smoke than we do in London.

This depiction of the future left Pierre Curie and Henri Poincaré feeling suffocated.

Worse than London? That's worse than hell!
Nikola Tesla chimed in: "Mr. Sorel is absolutely right! And alternating current has advantages that direct current cannot match!"

We can use a device called a 'transformer' to increase the voltage and transmit electricity tens or even hundreds of kilometers away!
A large power plant, built in the suburbs, or even deep in the mountains, is enough to illuminate an entire city dozens of kilometers away!

Pierre Curie caught a glimpse of an unfamiliar word: "transformer?"

Lionel nodded: "Yes, transformers. Earlier this year, a device called a 'secondary generator' was publicly demonstrated in London."

It is essentially a transformer that can raise or lower voltage. One of its inventors was French, and the other was British.

They were planning to sell the technology to Westinghouse in the United States; however, I've already had Mr. De La Rouwac purchase the patent license for this technology in France.

Nikola Tesla looked at Lionel with admiration: "Mr. Sorel possesses unparalleled technical intuition and vision."

He pointed out almost all the key directions for future power applications, and some of his ideas were even more profound than I had thought about.

Therefore, I am willing to join 'Sorel Electric'!

Pierre Curie and Henri Poincaré exchanged a glance and nodded in agreement.

They recalled their previous collaborations on improving bicycles and typewriters, where Lionel always hit the nail on the head and offered practical directions for improvement.

Pierre Curie remarked, "Indeed, Léon always managed to find the path to the future in seemingly ordinary things."

Henri Poincaré chimed in, "Sometimes I even think you're an engineer whose talent was wasted on literature..."

Lionel was a little embarrassed by their comments, so he quickly waved his hand and laughed self-deprecatingly, "You overestimate me."

I just...from a user's perspective, felt that certain things 'shouldn't be like that,' and 'should be better.'

He lightly brushed aside the topic, then his expression turned serious, and his gaze swept over the three people in front of him—

Pierre Curie, a future Nobel laureate, is currently working as a demonstrator in the Sorbonne's physics laboratory.

Henri Poincaré, a future giant of mathematics, has joined the Sorbonne and is a senior engineer in the "Public Works Department" in charge of the construction of the Northern Railway.
And of course, there's Nikola Tesla, the inventor of the modern alternating current power supply system and the founder of modern wireless communication and radio technology.

These three young men, who would all become great figures in the future, were now sitting in his garden, having become friends.

Lionel took a deep breath: "I've invited the three of you here today not just for tea and casual conversation, but also to get to know each other."

I will be establishing a large-scale, systematic electromechanical laboratory, and I hope you can all join me!

The initial investment for this laboratory will exceed 20 francs, and the best equipment will be purchased for everyone to conduct research…

Before Lionel could finish speaking, the eyes of the other three people lit up!
(I've been busy these past few days and won't be able to update more often, but I'll resume later.)
(End of this chapter)