this post was submitted on 05 Oct 2025
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Hi! So a question just popped into my mind and I need to know. Ok, so let's say we have a hypothetical power source that's some sort of self-sustaining reaction or process. And let's just say that once we start it, there's no way of shutting/slowing it down.

The largest capacity power plant on the globe is the Three Gorges Dam with an output of 22,500 MW. Let's say our hypothetical power source also puts out 22,500 MW. Let's also say that our hypothetical power source also has the potential to go into a sort of "meltdown," and when in this condition, our hypothetical power source has the potential to double it's electrical production to 45,000 MW for a brief time.

So my question is this: If a worst case scenario occurred and the power plant that contained our hypothetical power source was disconnected from the grid, what would the best way to "burn off" all of that electricity that now had no where to go? Thank you for humoring me :)

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[–] bear@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 1 week ago