685327594 t1_itnk9we wrote on October 24, 2022 at 11:22 PM

Reply to comment by Maeghkor in eli5: how long would power stay on if the power company abandoned their post? by larsattacks94

Without any load the turbines will start to accelerate. The protection systems will automatically trip the plant offline before it accelerates out of control and destroys itself.

Maeghkor t1_itnmybp wrote on October 24, 2022 at 11:42 PM

Thanks!

immibis t1_ito4mmz wrote on October 25, 2022 at 1:50 AM

Is it not remotely possible that the load drops at a reasonable rate which the control system can cope with, ending with the dam powering just its own local area from a trickle of water?