Power Generation & Transmission Flashcards
7 cards from real AEP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Power Generation & Transmission flashcards as text
What is 'spinning reserve' in power system operations?
Answer: Online generation capacity that can increase output quickly to cover a sudden loss
Spinning reserve is synchronized generating capacity that is already online and can ramp up within seconds to minutes to compensate for a sudden generation or transmission outage.
In a nuclear power plant, what role does the moderator play in the reactor core?
Answer: It slows fast neutrons to increase the probability of fission
The moderator (commonly light water in U.S. reactors) slows fast neutrons to thermal speeds, greatly increasing their probability of causing further fission in U-235.
What is a 'blackstart' capability in power generation?
Answer: The ability to start a generator without drawing power from the grid
Blackstart units can energize themselves and then supply power to restart other, larger generators after a total grid collapse, without needing external electricity.
What causes 'corona discharge' on high-voltage transmission lines?
Answer: Ionization of air around conductors when the electric field exceeds a threshold
Corona occurs when the electric field intensity at the conductor surface is high enough to ionize surrounding air, producing a faint glow, audible hiss, and power loss.
What does the term 'peaking unit' refer to in utility generation planning?
Answer: A generator used only during the highest demand hours of the year
Peaking units (often simple-cycle gas turbines) run relatively few hours per year, only during demand peaks, and are valued for their quick-start capability rather than fuel efficiency.
Which phenomenon describes the tendency of an AC transmission line to carry more current on its outer surface at high frequencies?
Answer: Skin effect
The skin effect causes AC current to concentrate near the conductor's outer surface, effectively reducing the usable cross-sectional area and increasing effective resistance.
What is the purpose of an energy management system (EMS) at AEP's grid control centers?
Answer: Monitor, control, and optimize the real-time operation of the transmission grid
An EMS integrates SCADA data, state estimation, contingency analysis, and economic dispatch tools to keep the bulk power system reliable and efficient in real time.