Power Grid notes - Professor Lisa Ball. Fulfilled TCU Core Curriculum requirement for Natural Sciences. PDF

Preview

Summary

Professor Lisa Ball. Fulfilled TCU Core Curriculum requirement for Natural Sciences....

Description

Power Grid Lecture “How Power Gets To Your House” Video     

Main power plant and then high-voltage power lines, not usu. in wealthy neighborhoods Transmission carry high voltage of electricity long distances (higher volt.=farther can travel) Power substation: voltage reduced here Transformer: further reduces voltage so elect. used safely in home Meter box: electric box voltage travels through (110-120 volts)

“Why The Lights Go Out” Video (Part B of lecture)         

Trees/branches most common cause of power outage single, uninterrupted line of electricity from power source to home* Fuses-go out upon any contact on lines w/ tree, etc. Electrons need to flow along wires Closed circuit=power via electrons flowing thru; cont. flow Open circuit=created if break in circuit (no cont. flow of electrons like closed^) 2 ways set up circuits: 1) Series; 2) Parallel Series-single path for electricity to flow in; failure @ 1 pt. causes entire flow to stop Parallel-2 paths for electricity to flow through

“How Does the Electric Grid Work” Video 

Spinning Stand-by: ready-to-go to bring online in event that problem within system o kept constantly ready

“Voltage, Current, and Resistance” Video         

V=Voltage (volts); potential energy in electricity I=Current (amps); flow of electrons R=Resistance (ohms); anything that resists flow of electricity Potential energy pushes electrons, which slowed down by resistor V=I*R If increase voltage and resistance stays same, current inc. If increase resistance, current dec. Inverse relationship b/n I & ROhm’s Law Direct relationship b/n V & IOhm’s Law

“What is the Smart Grid” Video     

Electricity sent thru transmission lines; travels near speed of light Power grids now contain sophisticated sensors Allows to better deal with power outages Smart meter Utilities can cut down on backup power plants and use less reliable but cleaner energy sources

“The Electric InterGrid-Why Smart Power Grid is Essential” Video

    

Largest infrastructure project in history Power Grids starting to fail, causing blackouts Energy (electricity) can melt away as heat Blackouts and brownouts cause businesses to lose $100 billion each year InterGrid works on “Prices to devices”...