electricity phase shift

[thekraut]

as far as i know, all powerplants in europe are exactly synchronized, so their voltage frequencies ate exactly 50 Hz at a phase shift of 0.
but if you assume that at one point one plant manager decides to shift his plants phase by 180� - where would all the power go, as the voltage would zero out a similar plant that works at 0 shift. That, my friends out there, I do not understand

[Thunderchild]

the power would be used up in the plants generators as a massive short circuit would occur it would be the same as shorting out a battery or to make an analoly plug two new  9 volt batteries together (no i don't recomend it realy) and see what happens: 18 volts shorted out and lots of heat and smoke and probably fire if not explosion. now imagine that on 380 V* 2 = 740 V shorted out with an enormouse current capacity i think it would be like a bomb going up. in anycase i find it strange that all power plants r connected together as this would be dangerous even in a slight phase shift. more than likely there is automatic switching of area from one to another plant to cope with the load without direct connection as even voltage differences due to different lengh cable can cause a problem. no maybe all plants r sincronised but not linked together (yes i know u did not actually state that but i think u implied it) as the slightest error or circumstantional difference could cause disasters at that power level.

[Thunderchild]

ps all plants produce 3 phase that is at 380 volts it is then reduced to 230 (or 240 i think in the uk) by local transformers like a couple per small town

[BillyBB]

Don't the generators need an exciter current before they do anything? If this is taken direct from the grid it would ensure perfect synchronisation.

Only a theory this one.

[Ray the DJ]

The protection within the power station would not allow such a phase shift, the generator would be disconnected before any fault damage could occur.
Phase shift differences on the National Grid are monitored continuously and any shift would result in the source being tripped and isolated instantly.
Excitation of the rotor of a power generator is created from a dynamo on the same rotor as the generator so the generator is self exciting.

[Thunderchild]

both assertions r perfectly correct