A brief history of direct current in electrical power systems

This article summarizes the history of the use of Direct Current (DC) in power systems, and various problems associated whit its commercial implementation. DC technology has been associated with power systems since the early uses of electricity; it has boomed and then fell into disuse in several occasions. This article aims to review the development stages of electrical systems where DC technology has been used, and also to analyze the reasons that led to its use, the advances that brought to DC technology, as well as the reasons that led to their subsequent abandonment. Finally, is analyzed the new DC technology boom of recent decades and the promising development expectations that this technology brings to power systems.