Tasavirtajärjestelmät

Tasavirtajärjestelmät, often referred to as DC systems, are electrical networks that utilize direct current. In a direct current system, the electric charge flows in one direction only. This is in contrast to alternating current (AC) systems, where the direction of the current flow reverses periodically.

Historically, DC systems were the first to be widely adopted for electrical power distribution. However, AC systems eventually became dominant for large-scale power transmission due to the ease with which AC voltage can be stepped up or down using transformers, making it more efficient for long-distance transport.

Despite the prevalence of AC in the grid, DC systems remain crucial in many applications. Batteries inherently store and provide direct current, making them fundamental to portable electronics, electric vehicles, and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS). Solar panels also generate DC electricity. Many modern electronic devices, such as computers and smartphones, internally operate on DC voltage, requiring AC-to-DC converters (rectifiers) to function. Furthermore, specific industrial processes, like electroplating and certain types of welding, rely on DC power.

The transmission of DC power over very long distances is also experiencing a resurgence through High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) technology. HVDC systems convert AC power to DC for transmission and then back to AC at the destination. This method can be more efficient than AC for extremely long distances or for interconnecting asynchronous AC grids.