[Boatanchors] LINE VOLTAGE, FILAMENT VOLTAGE and SANITY

[rbethman]

This entire topic is not a light reading session.

I do indeed understand the power distribution and generation.

The capacitor banks are used to switch in or out as needed to keep the 
power factor within limits of the generation system.

Typically power plants shoot for a 0.8 lagging power factor.  It is an 
absolute bad thing to go into a leading power factor.  The results are 
predictable.  I have seen the remnants of the generators when it 
occurred.  The twisted windings and the burnt remnants aren't pretty.

I have been one of the ones to replace a couple of them.  They aren't 
light!  Then getting them aligned to the prime mover can be *very* 
interesting!  Particularly some of GE's that have no front bearing!  The 
entire alignment "can' be a nightmare.

Efficiency is a whole different matter.  The losses in distribution are 
nothing compared to the lack of efficiency of the generation.  Then it 
has been made worse when a particular "Commander-in-Chief" occupant of 
the White House did away with re-processing of spent fuel with a stroke 
of a pen.

Now Nuclear Plants are stuck with pools FULL of spent fuel rods, and no 
place for them to go.  Yet they have to keep storing more all the time, 
and the costs are passed on to the "consumer".

I too believe in concerns regarding the environment.  That being said, 
neither am I a "tree hugger".

There WILL be a time when the politics will have to be set aside, and 
reality placed into the equation.

Transporting used fuel elements is no more a hazard than moving nuclear 
weapons around.

This has been going on for quite some time.  A large number of cruise 
missiles were nuclear.  They had to be transported to Oak Ridge to 
change them into conventional warheads.

Yet, we are concentrating on "small" nuclear plants to spread all over 
the entire country.  Wind and Solar means just don't provide enough.

The technology explosion makes the power needs simply continue to grow.

I'll get off my soapbox.....

Bob - N0DGN



On 1/6/2015 11:08 AM, KA4INM wrote:
>
>  <<
> CVR deployment should target heavily loaded, higher voltage feeders. 
> Best candidates will have high concentrations of voltage-dependent 
> loads as in residential neighborhoods.
> Making the most with what you have is the best way to start. 
> Systematic capital investments can follow.
>  >>
>
>   This means your lights will glow dimmer and your computer, battery 
> chargers and all kinds of non-resistive loads (including some motors) 
> will consume the same amount of power by drawing more current.
>   How many motors will stop and how many air conditioners and 
> refrigerators will not be able to start?
>   "Energy star" is a great idea, but this is just wacko.
> Why?  If you lower the Voltage, the current will go up, the losses are 
> based on the current not the Voltage.  Efficiency LOST!


-- 
Bob - N0DGN