Duer 157099 (1000+ posts) Fri Sep-09-11 02:40 AM
Original message
This blackout in So Cal strikes me as very odd
Isn't it really weird that such a large area can be completely blacked out for over a day (they're predicting)? WTF is wrong with us? That sounds like something that simply should not happen anymore. Is it a symptom of some deep problems with our infrastructure, or is it totally normal and acceptable that this could happen?
Hundreds of thousands of people will lose all of the food in their fridges/freezers. That is A LOT of food, that is expensive to replace. People are just supposed to suck it up and shrug their shoulders and go "oh well"?
I lost power for a couple hours about a month ago and I freaked the **** out. A DAY? In 100 degree weather? No fans? UGH WTH is wrong with us?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1905582 I'd like to see a blackout over the entire state of California lasting three or four weeks.
Let the moonbats reaffirm their absolute opposition to any new generating capacity.
More on crumbling infrastructure:
Tx4obama (1000+ posts) Fri Sep-09-11 02:47 AM
Response to Original message
1. See below
The outage was likely caused by an employee removing a piece of monitoring equipment...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...
Now image if that whole building where the equipment is were to burn down - it probably would take weeks if not months to rebuild and everyone would be without electricity for a very very long time!
The infrastructure in most of America is OLD and needs to be updated ASAP.
p.s. When hurricane Ike came through Houston a few years ago I was without electricity for two weeks.
They said at the time it would have not taken so long if our grid/equipment/lines had been more modern.
Duer 157099 (1000+ posts) Fri Sep-09-11 03:10 AM
Response to Reply #4
6. "Oops! Sorry!"
Seems that is all anybody has to do anymore, just shrug it off and go on.
When the **** will we finally say ENOUGH!?!
Divernan (1000+ posts) Fri Sep-09-11 03:39 AM
Response to Reply #12
15. No, Equipment failure IS someone's fault. It's called Product Liability.
I taught classes on this in law school and I cannot educate you on this on line.
Don't worry about it. Nutcase nadin will handle that when she gets back.
DUmmy Broderick, who wants to abolish free enterprise altogether:
Broderick (1000+ posts) Fri Sep-09-11 11:57 AM
Response to Reply #1
36. I sense a great opportunity for Nationalization of
our power structure, companies and grids which in turn could provide jobs to update the infrastructure.
truedelphi (1000+ posts) Fri Sep-09-11 03:29 AM
Response to Reply #2
13. On the plus side, generators are now rather inexpensive, and can provide
Several hours of energy for not that much propane.
I am hoping my household will be off the grid soon. I hate P G & E and their smart meters.
Hopefully, DUmmy truedelphi is running that generator indoors, out of the weather.
More than likely, he bought one that runs off electricity, or on battery power.
truedelphi (1000+ posts) Fri Sep-09-11 03:54 AM
Response to Reply #14
17. Tht's what I expect as well.
And there are rumors afloat that they somehow can "listen" to the activites in your household.
They can also sense the odor of burning weed.
Divernan (1000+ posts) Fri Sep-09-11 04:01 AM
Response to Reply #17
19. Basically they know peak hours are dictated by homeowners' work schedules
Private utility companies are grifters.
DUmbasses like Divernan have no idea what that word means, but they heard it used against Sarah Palin, so they know it's bad.
DUmmy kristopher returns from a trip to The Google:
kristopher (1000+ posts) Fri Sep-09-11 03:18 AM
Response to Original message
10. A grid built around centralized thermal generation is subject to cascade failures that...
...require a while to recover from.
Once the failure is contained and "roped off" from the rest of the grid, the process of reintegrating all of the generation begins. You've heard of 60 cycle or 50 cycle? The generators in the section that is still operational are all synchronized; that is, the speed and timing of the flip from positive to negative as each generator produces its alternating current (AC) all match . The section that is roped off must bring their generators into synchronization with those that are still running before they can be reintegrated into the powered network.
That is made much more difficult by the size of the coal and nuclear generators. The shafts are very long very, very heavy with wire windings, and once they stop, they sag in the middle - actually bending the shaft.
To get the bend out they must restart very slowly and turn until the shaft is straightened. Sometimes this process of getting the shaft turning at operating speed can take up to 24 hours.
It is, I believe, even more complicated with nuclear for reasons related to the process of reactor shut down and restart.
DUmmy Divernan, with words that should never be uttered at the DUmp:
Divernan (1000+ posts) Fri Sep-09-11 03:55 AM
Response to Reply #10
18. You would make an excellent expert witness.
sarcasmo (1000+ posts) Fri Sep-09-11 11:48 AM
Response to Original message
33. Overloaded and outdated grids are bound to blackout. It shocked me we didn't have a major
blackout this July when millions of air conditioners were running 24/7.
That's why the democrat party supports building new generation capacity. Oh, wait...
