Pretty fair explanation, Dan. It is one good way of looking at the complex
operation ( generation ? ) going on in a
RPC. My comment re. "different animals" was from the standpoint you could
not easily evaluate the operation of an induction generator connected
directly to the grid. Oh, I guess maybe the manufactured phase voltage
standing up would be a qualifier. A mechanically run induction generator,
grid excited, would cause the watt/hour meter to run backwards when it was
accelerated into the "negative slip" region of operation. Negative slip is
another point of discrepancy between the two. Many years ago there was a
fascinating series of articles in Live Steam about someone "feeding the
grid" with a steam engine driving an induction generator.

Bob Swinney
"Don Foreman" wrote in message
...
On 15 Sep 2005 08:13:13 -0700, "
wrote:

However if the mechanical drive to an induction generator is an
electric motor, then the power meter will not run backwards as any
power generated by the induction generator comes from the electric
motor.

As far as I know most induction generators are directly connected to
the power grid. And while you think that induction generators and
RPC's are quiet different animals, I think of the usual RPC as being an
induction generator with the drive being a three phase motor run on
single phase. It may not work for you, but it seems to explain exactly
how a RPC works for me. To me a three phase motor connected to single
phase power can supply mechanical power or can be supplied mechanical
power and the in between point with no power being supplied or being
supplied is exactly what most RPC's are.

That's how I visualize them as well.