1855 United States Tycoon

Scrooge found the two sides together and learned about their differences. In fact, the reason for the disagreement between the two sides is actually very simple, and it is inseparable from the ass. Today Edison’s group is responsible for the development of generators, and the group of European engineers headed by Mitchell is responsible for the development of electric motors. So a contradiction suddenly emerged: as far as generators are concerned, AC generators are much easier to implement. Normal generators directly generate alternating current. On the contrary, to produce direct current, it is necessary to install a lot of additional equipment, these things will obviously increase the manufacturing cost of the generator and the operating failure rate. Moreover, this increase in cost and failure rate cannot be avoided by technological means. However, Scrooge initially set relatively strict cost and reliability targets for them. Well, if AC power is used, these brushes, commutators, and all these messy things can be eliminated, then cost and reliability will not be a problem.

But on the other hand, Mitchell, who is in charge of the motor, will have a headache. In theory, the motor and the generator are the same thing. Physically speaking, the motor is a reversible process of the generator. In fact, if you turn the drive shaft of the motor with your hand, you can also send out electricity. In theory, just look like an alternator, and make a smaller one, um, it's a motor. But in reality, this is not the case. First of all, the generator does not need to consider the issue of speed regulation. It only needs to rotate at a fixed speed. The more stable the speed, the better. But the motor is different. Considering the flexibility of production, it must have the ability to adjust the speed. The DC motor only needs to change the intensity of the input current to easily complete the stepless speed regulation, while the AC generator must be equipped with a complete set of variable speed equipment. The effect of speed regulation is not comparable to that of a DC motor. Needless to say, this will of course increase costs and failure rates. In fact, this is not the most terrible thing. The most terrible thing is that when the AC motor starts, the speed has not risen, so the rotation speed of the rotor and the shear speed of the alternating current direction are completely out of line, so the direction of the electromagnetic force With chaotic changes, the rotor can't turn at all. So, in order to make it work well, you must add a set of starting devices to it. Well, the generator is simple, and the electric motor is about to cry. If you only need to add a set of facilities, you can endure biting your teeth, but now you have to add two sets of equipment. This is really aunt and Uncle can tolerate. .

Therefore, the motor unit and the generator unit are fighting over the issue of whether to use direct current or alternating current. And if this problem is not solved, well, the entire electrification process will not start at all. So this problem must be solved immediately.

In fact, it is easy to solve this problem. Scrooge said directly, I think AC power is better, and this problem will be solved. However, such a simple and rude approach will bring some undesirable side effects. That is, maybe, um, or even certain people will feel that they are favoring United States people. In this way, it will dampen the enthusiasm of those engineers who are recruited from Europe, and it will not necessarily boost the morale of United States engineers. Krausswitz mentioned in "On War" that one of the most important qualities of a commander-in-chief is justice. Nothing can damage morale more than being unfairly treated by the commander-in-chief. Of course, this is not to say that there cannot be elite trump cards with more special status, more honor, and more value in the army, but these elite trump cards must bear the responsibilities that suit their status. Since it's a trump card, when it's critical, you can win the big fight and you have to stand it. This is justice.

On the contrary, if you artificially divide your subordinates into miscellaneous cards and direct lines, when you are desperate, let the miscellaneous cards work hard, and when you get benefits, let the miscellaneous cards roll aside, and all the benefits will be given to the direct line. The army created in this way is completely incompetent, and when it comes to war, it will definitely have no combat effectiveness, and it will be collapsed at the touch of a point. In history, a certain army that constantly performed "for XX's sake, pull the brothers" is the best example.The same goes for the scientific research team. If Scrooge makes the people below feel unfair, well, then the result will naturally be "the people's hearts are scattered, and the team is not easy to lead."

Of course, if Scrooge throws out the transformer directly, um, then there is no need to spend much thought, and everyone can definitely admit that alternating current is better than direct current. However, Scrooge did not want to throw out such a big killer right away. Because patents are time-effective, before the large-scale use of electrical appliances, the role of this thing is still quite limited, and Scrooge estimates that the popularization of electrification will take at least three to five years. Therefore, at this time, the transformer will be thrown out. It is tantamount to wasting three to five years of patents. What, you said, tell them the idea first, get things out first, and then apply for patents? How can this be? Can you trust these people? If they take this thing and apply for a patent first, you are ready to cry! Apart from other people, Scrooge felt that he could definitely do such a thing, and he felt that Edison would definitely be happy to do it if he had the opportunity. Therefore, it is definitely a disadvantage to throw out the transformer now.

In this case, only detailed coordination of the differences between the two sides.

Fortunately, Scrooge understood that their disagreement was not a disagreement about ideas or other messy things. It is entirely a difference in interests, so it is probably the best way to adjust the plan for the distribution of interests.

"After listening to what everyone said, I think it makes sense." Well, this is a cliché, but in many cases it is also necessary for leaders to speak clichés. Scrooge now understands this quite well. "However, we still have to Make a choice between direct current and alternating current," Scrooge said.

"Everyone's reasons have been said, and now, let me talk about my thoughts. First of all, let's consider whether the reliability of the generator is important or the reliability of the motor is important."

Hearing this, Edison immediately smiled, while Mitchell frowned.

Scrooge continued: “Let’s consider which type of equipment has a higher failure rate that leads to more loss of production time. This is not difficult for everyone, and it can be solved by simply drawing up an equation. Obviously , Once the generator fails, the loss will be greater. Because any failure of the generator will cause the motor to fail to run, and the motor will not be so. So, in terms of reliability, there is no doubt that the generator is reliable Sex comes first."

Edison was overjoyed, and Mitchell was a little fidgeting.

"Of course, if we decide to use alternating current, then obviously, the amount of tasks on the motor development side will be much larger. My rule is, do more and take more, take more, and do more. Since the motor The development is more difficult. Then the corresponding mission time will naturally be relaxed, and the total investment and bonuses will be increased." Scrooge motioned to Mitchell with his eyes and asked him not to worry, and then said so.

Sure enough, with this sentence, Mitchell and the researchers on his side immediately became energetic. Even the people on Edison's side opened their eyes wide.

"Edison, your task will not be easy." Scrooge said.

"Mr. MacDonald, I am not afraid of difficulties, I like challenging things." Edison said immediately.

"Well, after completing the task at hand, I still have some important tasks to give you." Scrooge said.

In this way, Scrooge quickly settled the internal DC exchange dispute. After the meeting, he retained Mitchell and Edison again, talked to them separately, and encouraged them to cooperate and cooperate with each other. In the end, Scrooge said to them: "For each project, we will have a predetermined time and a predetermined investment. If you can complete these projects in advance and pass the inspection, I will give your team one thousand dollars each day in advance. The reward. If you can save the relevant expenses, and the saved part, you can also give you one-half as a reward. Two people, if you can cooperate with each other, I think you will be able to get more bonuses. Good Try Harder!"

Before leaving the large laboratory, Scrooge went to find Maxwell again. Because of the relevant scientific principles of transformers, there are still some that have not been completely resolved, and we still need to find him and work out the relevant principles. Then he returned home to rest, and planned to take Dorothea to visit his old partner John Rockefeller tomorrow.

When he returned to Cleveland last time, Rockefeller went to Pennsylvania because of business. So, Scrooge hadn't had time to take Dorothea to meet this key partner in the McDonald family's business.

In addition to introducing Dorothea to Rockefeller and let Dorothea know Rockefeller. Scrooge still has one very important thing to do. That is the oil company that intervened in Rockefeller.

In 1859, Pennsylvania drilled its first oil well, causing a wave of oil frenzy. There were people digging wells everywhere, but neither Scrooge nor Rockefeller jumped in immediately. Scrooge knew that Pennsylvania’s oil was nothing compared to the oil fields in Texas, Alaska, or even Mississippi. Rockefeller felt that there were too many people working in oil wells, and they would definitely not make money. Refining is the real thing that can make money.

So in 1863, Rockefeller built an oil refinery at his own expense, and then relying on the support of the profits obtained during the war from the Macdonald Infantry Arms Company and the Macdonald Chemical and Pharmaceutical Company, it quickly defeated the rest of Cleveland. The oil refinery in Cleveland has become the largest and only oil refinery in Cleveland. In history, Rockefeller relied on this refinery to develop step by step, and finally unified the oil industry of United States, becoming the number one rich man in the history of United States. But now, Scrooge wouldn't watch him monopolize so many benefits as he did in history. In fact, Scrooge was already prepared. He has already bought a lot of land where large oil fields are located in advance, and has controlled the source of the oil. At the same time, in the large laboratory, Nicholas Otto from Europe is also doing research on four-stroke gasoline engines. The most important user terminal for the future of oil is also in the hands of Scrooge. Even in the experimental base of Macdonald Chemical and Pharmaceutical Company, research on related technologies such as gasoline and diesel has been launched. With so many key things in his hands, Scrooge felt that it was impossible for Rockefeller to refuse him to intervene in his nascent oil refinery.

Thank you for reading this story at mtlarchive.com. Your support enables us to keep the site running!