[time-nuts] Features of a Precision Clock?

Dr Bruce Griffiths bruce.griffiths at xtra.co.nz
Sun Oct 8 08:44:33 UTC 2006


Poul-Henning Kamp wrote:
> In message <000001c6ea65$40156be0$0900a8c0 at cyrus>, "Bill Hawkins" writes:
>
>   
>> Think of the incredible amount of energy stored in many
>> rotating generators linked by the synchronous network.
>>     
>
> This is actually far less than you seem to think.
>
>   
>> If the load suddenly increased 10% [...]
>>     
>
> Then all generators would trip and disconnect from the grid.  No
> reasonably sized turbine driven generator survives a 10% load jump
> without exensive repairs.
>
> Your explanation was true about 30 years ago, not so any more.
>
> After deregulation, electrical grids run very close to the
> edge because nobody makes money on the reserve capacity and
> therefore everybody only produces exactly what they are
> legally required to.
>
> The main reason for all the research into UTC locked grids
> is that it would prevent produces from "cheating at the scale".
>
>   
Whilst it may be reasonable to run close to the edge in large grids 
where no one generator provides a large proportion of the power, it is 
not so for smaller grids with a few generators providing a large 
proportion of the power. In the local (NZ) market generators are paid to 
supply spinning reserve capacity. Since we only have 2 separate AC 
distribution systems connected by a bidirectional dc link and one 
operator coordinates the distribution from all the generators "cheating 
at the scale" isn't likely.

Bruce




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