Danger posed by solar flares

[DMB]

I was interested by this article (http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20127001.300-space-storm-alert-90-seconds-from-catastrophe.html?full=true)in New Scientist.

Over the last few decades, western civilisations have busily sown the seeds of their own destruction. Our modern way of life, with its reliance on technology, has unwittingly exposed us to an extraordinary danger: plasma balls spewed from the surface of the sun could wipe out our power grids, with catastrophic consequences.

...There are two problems to face. The first is the modern electricity grid, which is designed to operate at ever higher voltages over ever larger areas. Though this provides a more efficient way to run the electricity networks, minimising power losses and wastage through overproduction, it has made them much more vulnerable to space weather. The high-power grids act as particularly efficient antennas, channelling enormous direct currents into the power transformers.

The second problem is the grid's interdependence with the systems that support our lives: water and sewage treatment, supermarket delivery infrastructures, power station controls, financial markets and many others all rely on electricity. Put the two together, and it is clear that a repeat of the Carrington event could produce a catastrophe the likes of which the world has never seen.

It's well worthwhile reading the whole article. The trouble is that the grids, if hit by a big flare, could not be restored quickly. Once they are down, they are down for months, and hundreds of millions of people are extremely vulnerable.

[BWE]

Air traffic is also drastically at risk from that kind of event iirc.

[Mung Dynasty]

That is interesting. Gob-smackingly obvious once it has been pointed out, but the sort of thing most people would never think of. Given the magnitude of the risk it would be stupid to ignore it.

[David B]

I read something about this within the last few weeks, and can't remember where. Might have been BBC news.

It was about the time that the Canadian electricity system very nearly got totally fried a few years ago, and about estimates that within the last hundred or so years there have been a couple of events that were much bigger than that.

It is worrying.

David

[Gooch's Dad]

It seems a ridiculously simple thing to fix. Correct me if I'm wrong, but if they just put some good-sized capacitors inline with their power lines, then the power lines can't transfer any DC current to the transformers. The power is all AC, so if it is designed correctly, all of the AC current should go right through the capacitors.

This is stuff I learned in basic electronics class. I can't imagine how it wouldn't apply to high-voltage lines too.

[TySixtus]

I recall hearing the same thing BEE in the Navy. Wouldn't they be mega-huge caps, though?

[ofro]

Wish it were so...
I am not a high-voltage electrical engineer by any means, but I think that translating basic electronics into high-voltage power line reality poses a few hurdles. Without access to real numbers right now, I suspect that there may be no capacitors around that can withstand such high voltages and have sufficient capacity. In addition, I imagine that such capacitors will experience a significant power loss even under normal operating conditions, which will reduce the amount of power that can be maximally transmitted and at the same time heat up the capacitors beyond their tolerances. Finally, the electrical currents induced in the grid by the magnetic storms are not clean D.C. but will fluctuate considerably, thus passing through the capacitors and overloading lines and transformers.

[TySixtus]

Ofro your objections -- especially the one based on heat -- are the first things that spring to mind. The caps would have to be massive and capable of radiating a ridiculous amount of heat. Plus, you're absolutely right about the DC generation. Solar flares would generate some dirty power.

[DMB]

Since it seems that the risk is actually higher than being hit by a comet or asteroid and since the areas most at risk are the richer countries, why doesn't this get a higher profile and more resources?

[Puck]

Um, stupid question time. Would this fry our computers? If the power is stepped down before coming into our homes, would this 'dirty' power get through our battery backup/power surge protectors and toast the 'pute?

Yeah, yeah, it's a silly worry in the face of having no electricity at all for some time, but I'm just curious of an event like this would affect the electrical products in our homes.

[DMB]

I would doubt that it's all that predictable. But if you were without electricity for a few months, I guess that would be the least of the problems. Lack of petrol, pumped water, sewage processing and food might seem a lot more important.

[ofro]

Um, stupid question time. Would this fry our computers? If the power is stepped down before coming into our homes, would this 'dirty' power get through our battery backup/power surge protectors and toast the 'pute?

Yeah, yeah, it's a silly worry in the face of having no electricity at all for some time, but I'm just curious of an event like this would affect the electrical products in our homes.

Good question, actually. I don't have a good answer. But it seems to me that the grid overload would first cause the big transformers to blow before there could be damage further down. The danger to our computers and other house electronics comes primarily from lightning because that can affect the wiring down to the level where it enters your house.

On the other hand, we do know that solar storms have fried the electronics in satellites. But that could have been very sensitive components.

[Puck]

I would doubt that it's all that predictable. But if you were without electricity for a few months, I guess that would be the least of the problems. Lack of petrol, pumped water, sewage processing and food might seem a lot more important.

For me, it wouldn't be as big an issue. I have an old hand dug well here, so I can hand pump from it, and I have a septic tank. No need for petrol, as there probably wouldn't be much in the stores in town to buy anyway. That leaves food, and I think I could go a few months without starving to death. It wouldn't be a whole lotta fun, though. I'd sure become a better hunter and butcher, however. But I'd damned sure miss my intertoobs.

But city folks would have serious problems without those things, and disease would be the real problem it seems to me.

[Valheru]

It seems a ridiculously simple thing to fix. Correct me if I'm wrong, but if they just put some good-sized capacitors inline with their power lines, then the power lines can't transfer any DC current to the transformers. The power is all AC, so if it is designed correctly, all of the AC current should go right through the capacitors.

This is stuff I learned in basic electronics class. I can't imagine how it wouldn't apply to high-voltage lines too.

Capacitors and AC don't mix. A cap will attempt to flatline any sine wave. The long-distance high-voltage grid is DC, though, and you could in theory use capacitive protection there.

Once it's past the substation, though, the AC is on it's own, so to speak.

[Valheru]

Finally, the electrical currents induced in the grid by the magnetic storms are not clean D.C. but will fluctuate considerably, thus passing through the capacitors and overloading lines and transformers.

But that's exactly the sort of thing a capacitor is useful for.

Building one that can handle the extreme voltage on a DC grid is a challenge though, but I'm pretty sure it's straightforward.