Electronic – Why can’t generators with different frequencies supply the same transmission line

frequencygeneratortransformer

I am thinking of the issue that

the TEPCO electric transmission
networks cannot be taken over by other
electric companies because of
frequency difference.

TEPCO is the electric company having the nuclear crisis.

Why cannot generators having different frequencies supply in the same transmission line?

Edit

I think most electric equipments can work at either 50 OR 60 Hz. So what is the problem?

Best Answer

Equipment designed to work with one frequency power will not necessarily work with another frequency.

  • Transformers designed to work with 60Hz will have lower ratings when working at 50Hz (Important for power distribution and individual devices)
  • The speed (RPM) of AC motors is tied directly to the power line frequency.
  • AC Wall clocks wouldn't work :)

The combination of 50Hz and 60Hz would cause generators to fight eachother

  • See the plot of both 50Hz and 60Hz superimposed from Wolfram
  • The blue plot shows the difference. Where the function is large, the generators are fighting eachother (Big Boom!)