I’ve seen lots of posts lately on Texas being “minutes and seconds away” from months long blackouts. What could’ve happened, what was avoided that caused that?
In: Engineering
Large utilities have somewhat complicated algorithms called “Remedial Action Schemes” (RAS). A RAS is “armed” by system operators when conditions are nominal. The RAS equipment then monitors a set of transmission lines and generation in a geographical area. If a given combination of lines and/or generation goes offline that would result in a severely overloaded line, the scheme automatically trips remaining lines or generation offline to reduce the possibility of a line overheating. All lines have their own protection to interrupt currents that exceed a maximum determined by the line characteristics (wire type, wire size, ambient temperature, sag of the line between towers or poles, etc.) However, the RAS actuates much more quickly than normal protection, averting an overheating or ‘annealing’ of the line which could cost millions to repair or replace. Most lines are not designed to operate above 275 degrees C for any length of time.
Not saying with certainty that this is what happened in TX, but it is one way that lots of resources can be tripped off line in seconds.
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