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<blockquote data-quote="dennishoddy" data-source="post: 3597598" data-attributes="member: 5412"><p>Basically, the power plants were not constructed to operate in those record cold temperatures. </p><p>Power plants rely on feedback from operating systems to stay online. </p><p>My background is in instrumentation and control systems management that involved some programming for the operating system along with field work at 2 am or so multiple times a week with call outs to repair feedback instruments, or other issues. 365/24/7 on call. </p><p>In Tx most of the power plants are open construction vs Montana where they are completely Inclosed. </p><p>Since most of their base load is coal and gas to generate steam that rotates a turbine that rotates a generator to make electricity, the feedback systems froze up, along with the double/triple redundancy systems that those plants operate with. </p><p>When working at Sooner Power Plant between Ponca and Stillwater we were hardened for freezing temps by massive insulation of feed lines to instrument houses that had heaters inside to prevent freezing. </p><p>A power plant has to know pressures, temperatures, barometric pressures, oxygen levels in discharge gasses, voltages and other inputs to operate among a host of other inputs I won’t list as it’s too long. Around 1500 inputs if I remember right per unit and we had two </p><p>Even so, when temps got extremely low, individual manpower using propane torches spent up to 36 hours without breaks or sleep to keep those lines thawed where there were breaks in the insulation or the temps overwhelmed the heaters in the feedback instrument cabinets so our customers could have the electricity we promised them. </p><p>Hospitals, nursing homes, seniors at home all relied on us to keep power to their homes and businesses. </p><p>I’ve seen a lot of complaints about electrical power issues on this forum. Almost no one realizes how much dedication the employees in this industry has to maintain the power coming into the customers home/business because we knew the consequences of failure. People die or suffer and business fail. </p><p>Linemen working power lines during a lightning storm to get that one neighborhood back on line is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world but they don’t wait until the storm passes. </p><p>Wind farms in Tx were not hardened either and they failed to ice and other issues to be discussed. </p><p>Massive power requirements because of the record cold could not keep up with demand. </p><p>Solar systems covered in ice in Tx didn’t work either. </p><p>To their credit, TX is working to make sure this is a one time deal. </p><p>The Tx freeze got further South of the Rio Grande. </p><p>We were 2 miles north of the Rio Grande seeing orchards and veggi fields devastated. One reason for hi veggi prices now. It will take many years for those orchards to recover.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="dennishoddy, post: 3597598, member: 5412"] Basically, the power plants were not constructed to operate in those record cold temperatures. Power plants rely on feedback from operating systems to stay online. My background is in instrumentation and control systems management that involved some programming for the operating system along with field work at 2 am or so multiple times a week with call outs to repair feedback instruments, or other issues. 365/24/7 on call. In Tx most of the power plants are open construction vs Montana where they are completely Inclosed. Since most of their base load is coal and gas to generate steam that rotates a turbine that rotates a generator to make electricity, the feedback systems froze up, along with the double/triple redundancy systems that those plants operate with. When working at Sooner Power Plant between Ponca and Stillwater we were hardened for freezing temps by massive insulation of feed lines to instrument houses that had heaters inside to prevent freezing. A power plant has to know pressures, temperatures, barometric pressures, oxygen levels in discharge gasses, voltages and other inputs to operate among a host of other inputs I won’t list as it’s too long. Around 1500 inputs if I remember right per unit and we had two Even so, when temps got extremely low, individual manpower using propane torches spent up to 36 hours without breaks or sleep to keep those lines thawed where there were breaks in the insulation or the temps overwhelmed the heaters in the feedback instrument cabinets so our customers could have the electricity we promised them. Hospitals, nursing homes, seniors at home all relied on us to keep power to their homes and businesses. I’ve seen a lot of complaints about electrical power issues on this forum. Almost no one realizes how much dedication the employees in this industry has to maintain the power coming into the customers home/business because we knew the consequences of failure. People die or suffer and business fail. Linemen working power lines during a lightning storm to get that one neighborhood back on line is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world but they don’t wait until the storm passes. Wind farms in Tx were not hardened either and they failed to ice and other issues to be discussed. Massive power requirements because of the record cold could not keep up with demand. Solar systems covered in ice in Tx didn’t work either. To their credit, TX is working to make sure this is a one time deal. The Tx freeze got further South of the Rio Grande. We were 2 miles north of the Rio Grande seeing orchards and veggi fields devastated. One reason for hi veggi prices now. It will take many years for those orchards to recover. [/QUOTE]
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