The Design and Operation of a Metropolitan Electrical System From the Viewpoint of Possible Major Shutdowns

The bulk power system of The Detroit Edison Company is designed and operated in five power-plant load areas. These load areas are ``loose linked'' to prevent uncontrollable trouble in any one of them causing a total shutdown. The internal design of the load areas is arranged to permit of ready sectionalizing in event of serious area shutdowns, thereby permitting the load to be picked up in small pieces. Such sectionalizing is practicable because the distribution lines are largely radial, that is, are not connected together beyond the substation. A limited amount of experience data are given on the behavior of generators under instantaneously applied loads. The rationale of emergency operating is developed and the special instructions outlined.