ABHIMANU IAS SPEAKS

POWER GRID

• The power grid system is the electrical utility distribution system. A grid is basically a carrier of power. Whenever power is generated, it goes through a grid.
• India has 5 power grids — northern, eastern, northeastern, southern & western.
• The Northern Region Grid, which provides Power Supply to 9 States of Northern India including Delhi, experienced a widespread outage due to a grid disturbance that occurred on 30th July, 2012.

 IT’S FUNCTION:

• When power is evacuated to the grid from the power station, a frequency gets attached to it. It varies from 49.5 to 50.5 and this is the range in which power is distributed.
• The normal grid discipline is to maintain that frequency 

WHY THE GRID TRIPS:

• The trouble begins when more power is evacuated to the grid or more power is drawn from it. In the first case, the frequency goes up; while it goes down in the second case

 PROBLEM:

• The grid is threatened when frequency of power drops below 49.5 hertz, but the states did not stop overdrawing even when the frequency dropped below critical levels
• When the frequency drops to 48.8 hertz, the under frequency relays (UFRs) installed on the high tension lines start working
• These are programmed to start shutting down the grid to prevent a blow out