Importance of the Selfregulating Effect Within Power Systems

Abstract The selfregulating effect of power systems consists on the one hand on the frequency dependence of the load – caused by the speed dependent torque characteristics of asynchronous motor driven working machines and on the other hand on a hidden selfregulating influence of speed controlled municipal heating and industrial process power plant units. The hidden influence of these mostly smaller power plant units is proved in this paper quantitatively by measurements concerning the whole European power system as well as by three special experimental investigations. Further on, there are pointed out the advantages of the in practice quite higher selfregulating effect than expected by the transmission system operators. The advantages concern the dynamic behaviour of power systems as well as saving costs on the power plant side for keeping ready less spinning reserve power.