How is instantaneous power adjusted in the electrical grid?

[ORF]

Hello

I didn't find a similar question, but if it's redundant, please erase this thread.

The instant electrical power is not constant (because of the consumption and of the production). So, how the instant power is adjusted in the electrical grid?

There is a similar entry, but it has several open questions:
-> I have heard that in case of surplus, the electrical power is derived to ground, but this seems weird to me. Is it true?
-> They talk about the speed of the electrical power; how fast is the electrical power transfer? (post10).

Thank you in advance :)

Greetings.

 

[mfb]

@anorlunda wrote an insights article about AC networks. On the timescale of seconds, the generators in power plants act as flywheels. Over longer timescales, various power plants regulate their power, especially hydro and gas power plants can quickly switch on/off.

 

[cnh1995]

That insights article will surely help the OP.
Plus,
https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/automatic-load-frequency-control-in-power-system.893480/
this thread might help.

 

[ORF]

@mfb: Oh, I didn't notice that article. Thank you :)

Just to keep in mind some number... what is the electrical power speed for a typical electrical grid? (I don't know the typical parameters of reactance and resistance for an electrical grid)

@cnh1995: thank you for the thread. I'm not an electrical engineer, so it's a bit harder for me following it.

 

[mfb]

The propagation speed for changes in voltages in cables is typically 2/3 c. The effective speed can be different in complex networks.

 

[ORF]

Ok, thank you :)

The last stupid question of the thread (I promise): the speed of electrical power transfer is the same as the speed for changes in voltages?

 

[anorlunda]

Ok, thank you :)

The last stupid question of the thread (I promise): the speed of electrical power transfer is the same as the speed for changes in voltages?

Yes, that's correct.

 

[ORF]

@anorlunda Thank you :)

 

[anorlunda]

By the way, another PF Insights article talks more about balancing the power. It discusses speed of propagation, short term and long term considerations. I think that article might be easier for the OP. No math.

https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/what-happens-when-you-flip-the-light-switch/