For example, apparently the grid on one side of Japan uses 50 Hz and the other side uses 60 Hz, and this means they can’t interconnect, but… why? Why isn’t it the case that current is current is current is current? I’ve heard some super vague explanation about how deviations in the line frequency can damage electrical equipment, but *how* does it do that?
In: Engineering
AC is alternating current, being synchronized means it’s alternating in the same direction at the same time. If you connect two grids that are the same voltage and frequency, but 180 degrees out of phase, it’s like short circuiting double the voltage, because the positive of one grid is aligning with the negative of the other.
A 50hz and 60hz grid will go in and out of phase 10 times a second, if you connected them when they were in phase, the 60hz grid would try to speed up the 50hz grid, and the 50hz would try to slow down the 60hz grid. If the connection can’t handle enough current to hold them synchronized, stuff goes bang.
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