| Jonas Wenström | |
| Birth Date: | 4 August 1855 |
| Nationality: | Swedish |
| Occupation: | Electrical engineer, inventor |
Jonas Wenström (4 August 1855 in Hällefors - 22 December 1893 in Västerås) was a Swedish engineer and inventor, who in 1890 received a Swedish patent on the same three-phase system independently developed by Mikhail Dolivo-Dobrovolsky.[1] This formed the basis for ASEA (later ABB).[2] The possibility of transferring electrical power from a waterfall at a distance was explored at the Grängesberg mine. A fall at Hällsjön, Smedjebackens kommun, where a small iron work had been located, was selected. In 1893, a three-phase system was used to transfer 400 horsepower a distance of, becoming the first commercial application.[3]
About the invention of electric light, Wenström wrote: "Edison's new invention of electric light: a glowing carbon strip, is the same thing that I discovered a year ago ... If I had his laboratory, and resources, I would have done the same and better ... a graphite strip between two mica plates provide a more effective light than Edison's."[4]