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Gravity Stabilizes the Grid

Posted June 24, 2016 12:00 AM by Engineering360 eNewsletter

Gravity is the power behind a commercial-scale rail energy storage project to be sited in southern Nevada. The 50 MW scheme is expected to provide 12.5 MWh of fast response energy for grid stabilization. Excess power from solar and wind energy systems will be tapped to move multiple electric locomotive cars up a track on a gentle grade. When power is needed, the cars will move slowly downhill, using their motor-generators to return power to the electricity grid.

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Rixter
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: About 4000 miles from the center of the earth (+/-100 mi)
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#1

Re: Gravity Stabilizes the Grid

06/24/2016 2:06 PM

http://cr4.globalspec.com/blogentry/27196#comment1148895
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Brave Sir Robin
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Hobbies - DIY Welding - Wannabeabettawelda

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#2

Re: Gravity Stabilizes the Grid

06/24/2016 5:35 PM

I thought grid stability was the result of the law of conservation of angular momentum?
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Rixter
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: About 4000 miles from the center of the earth (+/-100 mi)
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Re: Gravity Stabilizes the Grid

06/25/2016 10:44 AM

You're probably thinking of phase stability.

https://arxiv.org/pdf/1312.6435.pdf

The total angular momentum of a power system must be huge. I can see how replacing rotating machines with electronics would make the system more prone to phase glitches.

This system would likely not help phase stability.

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PFR
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In reply to #3

Re: Gravity Stabilizes the Grid

07/13/2016 10:59 PM

even if they three trains very smart conductors?

__________________
 PFR Pressure busts pipes. Maybe you need better pipes.
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