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Why was the Gramme dynamo important in the acceptance of electric power?
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Cross section of a three-phase induction motor.
The Gramme dynamo, invented by Zénobe-Théophile Gramme in 1869, was pivotal to the acceptance of electric power because it provided a reliable, continuous-current electric generator capable of producing significantly higher voltages than previous designs.12
Its importance was further solidified by the discovery that the device was reversible. At the 1873 Vienna exhibition, it was demonstrated that the dynamo could function as an electric motor, effectively converting electrical energy back into mechanical energy. This versatility allowed for the practical application of electricity to run various types of machinery, marking a major advancement in industrial technology.12