I have an idea to improve the horrible U.S. power grid.

Currently, the main principal of maintaining constant power output of power plants is droop speed control. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Droop_speed_control

Basically, all of the power plants are dependant on each other to balance the load. But, the load must be shared to prevent any generator from slowing down and changing it's frequency. Not with this machine.

Each turbine (except dual-flows) would have a clutched flywheel on the end of the tubine opposite the largest blades and the generator. This flywheel would store energy to be output during high demand and absorb energy with a sudden drop in demand. It would have to be balanced with the turbine and generator and the start time of the turbine would be considerably longer.

NOTE: This does not replace a centrifugal governer.

flywheel->clutch->turbine(s)->clutch->generator (note: any existing generator flywheels would be independant of the turbine flywheel)

You power may soon come from MY MACHINES! MWAAHAHAHAHAHAAA! Please give feedback on potential problems.

It may work now...but how much longer. Population growth needs more power. Instead of building new plants this could be installed in existing plants. Some places are very desperate because their only power plant is over 100 years old and they have no space for a new one. If flywheels are installed in plants anywhere nearby then the town could connect to them. (the old plant would still be used but would have less load on ancient generators)

edit: http://www.turbinesinfo.com/steam-turbine-efficiency/ EEEEWWW...37%! That's wasteful! No wonder America has to buy foreign oil!