Clean smart grid: Primary frequency control applying H₂/O ₂ rocket combustor technology

The concept of a H₂/O₂ steam generator, derived from the rocket engine technology, which is capable to provide within one second a thermal capacity of about 70 MW and may thus serve as a means for frequency stabilization in an electric grid, is discussed. Supplemented with such a device, fossil fuelled power plants could operate in their optimum design point and in case of additional capacity needs, the steam generator will produce, by stoichiometric combustion of the propellants and injection of feed water, the desired steam capacity. The generator would operate until secondary reserves take over the additional power production within 30-60 seconds after the incident occurred. In countries like Turkey, Italy or the United States, where regional demand for electric power grows faster than the increase of the production capacity and adaptation of the transmission network, such a concept would immediately free a considerable part of generating power capacity from primary frequency control. This very fast reaction time of the steam generator enables a continuous integration of fluctuating power generation systems such as wind mills or photo-voltaic installations which to date cause severe problems in already strained transmission nets and may result in constraints for their connection to the grids.