Why Do We Use AC Instead Of DC:Interesting Aspects on Different Industires and Home

This article has discussed the various points why do we use AC instead of DC in multiple applications or appliances used in homes and industries.

Let’s discuss different application why do we use AC instead of DC as:

• Alternative current (AC) can be a step-down or step-up very easily by using various methods such as transformer to required value while losing minimum energy during conversion, as transformer works efficiently with AC power supply.

• Alternating current (AC) is used in industry for transmission in the generation of electricity as generation of alternating current is much cheaper and easier than that of a DC voltage. For Higher voltages and AC has much better efficiency in DC during transmission. 

• The devices that convert electrical energy into any mechanical energy use Alternative Current as a power supply, as when energy conversion is easier with AC as loss during conversion is lower the DC power conversion.

• Generally, for all types of operations in transformer, transformer use of AC supply is the main power supply. Where DC supply does not work properly with transformer as DC cannot easily generate an alternating magnetic field. The fundamental requirement for the operation of the transformer needs a change in the magnetic field, which induces the voltage in the second coil.

• High-voltage AC is relatively more efficient than DC for sending electricity over a significant distance. High Voltage generation in AC is relatively more accessible than that in DC.

• A Single-phase AC power supply is used in the home. In contrast, a three-phase AC power supply is used for commercial and steel facilities to accommodate high-voltage load better, for easy generation, transmission, and less maintenance requirement.

• An AC induction motor is easy to use, whereas a DC induction motor for proper working requires an additional commutator brush and switches.

• Arc generated in an AC circuit can be easily extinguished or can be self-extinguished, given that an AC has two zero-crossing points in its every complete cycle. In contrast, Arc generated in DC is much stronger and cannot be self-extinguished as DC does not have any zero-crossing.

• The AC generator is more efficient than the DC generator. Due to various losses in DC generators such as eddy current loss, mechanical loss, sparking, copper loss, and hysteresis loss, DC generator efficiency reduces. An AC generator does not require a commutator; maintaining an AC generator is much easier than that of a DC generator. The AC generator is very easily able to generate high voltage relative to the DC generator.

• Adding switches in the AC circuit is relatively more accessible than that of the DC circuit. When the AC circuit is switched off, a voltage Spark is generated inside the switch, which gets self-extinguished as AC has two zero-crossing points in its complete circle. Wherever in DC, both current and voltage are constant when switched off in DC circuit, the voltage is generated inside the switch stays for longer than that of AC if an Arc stays for longer in the circuit switch contacts making it burnt, pitted, overeating or premature switch failure.

• Three-Phase AC supply is used because with a three-phase supply, the electrical power is more consistent, which allows the machine to run more efficiently, and the device becomes more durable

• Three-phase AC energy system is used in various industries which use has high power demand three-phase AC system is used because power delivering through three-phase AC system is constant, can be used for more efficient use of materials, the installation cost is lower, the size of equipment reduces with the use of three-phase power supply etc

• In the household, the three-phase connection is not required as the power consumption is not as high as industries, but if there are a lot of heavy appliances used in a house, then a three-phase connection may be installed as a requirement

• Single-phase AC connection is generally used in residential appliances as single-phase AC is more efficient up to 1000 watts, design costs less, and the design is simple, the large array of application use of single-phase AC supply.

• Three-Phase power supply is used in mobile towers, data centres, aircraft, power grids, ship boards, etc. it is as well as many electronic loads that need more than 1000 watts of power for operation

• The three-phase power supply is used in power-hungry and high-density data centres. In high-density data centres, a more powerful computing system is being used and is packed in a small area. Some racks hold several servers that can draw 20 to 30 KW of power, so constant power and efficiency matter; that’s why a three-phase AC supply is used. By using a three-phase AC supply in the high-density data centre, losses can be minimised as well as load balancing across power is more straightforward, which results in optimum utilisation of power supply.

• AC drivers are widely in use in process industries to increase the efficiency of each piece of equipment. AC drivers control the speed of the electric motor as a requirement which reduces the overall energy consumption by 30 to 40%. In contrast, AC drivers in the industry used to regulate and control types of equipment such as conveyors, fans, machine spindles, etc.

• The cable size of the AC power supply is somewhat lighter relative to the DC power supply cable for the same rating.

• Electrosurgery uses the characteristics of a high-frequency alternating current for the removal or destruction of tissue. In this procedure, the high oscillating current is used to heat the tissue; the degree of destruction depends on the frequency of oscillation and the power of the supply current.

• Because of the two advantages of AC over DC on generation and transmission, alternate marine power (AMP) uses AC for operation.

• A general air conditioner uses AC over DC; some Air Conditioner uses DC for operations, but that DC AIr conditioner has low power applications. Air Conditioners require AC because of their high power consumption applications.

• The motor, which uses AC as a power supply, requires lower startup power and has better control over starting current and acceleration can be customised into various speed and torque requirements and ac Motors are more durable than DC Motors.

• In alternating, current can be easily converted to direct current by using a rectifier, filter, diode, etc. The conversion from DC to AC can be done by a complicated circuit of an inverter that costs much more than that of AC to DC Converter.