1.1.

LOAD-DURATION CURVES
When planning a power plant…

Two basic parameters to be decided are :

1. Total Power output to be installed (kWinst)

2. Size of the generating unit

1.1. LOAD-DURATION CURVES
1. Total Power output to be installed (kWinst)
1.1. LOAD-DURATION CURVES
2. Size of the generating units.
1.1. LOAD-DURATION CURVES

Industrial Load Urban Load

kW kW

12 6 12 6 12 12 6 12 6 12
am pm am pm
1.1. LOAD-DURATION CURVES

Residential Load Street lighting

kW kW

12 6 12 6 12 12 6 12 6 12
am pm am pm
1.1. LOAD-DURATION CURVES
Metropolitan Area Load

kW
Week day Saturday Sunday

12 6 12 6 12 6 12 6 12 6 12 6 12
am pm am pm am pm
1.1. LOAD-DURATION CURVES
Load Factor :
Average load over a given time interval
m = -----------------------------------------------------
Peak load during the same time interval

kW-h (ave.) in a year

m = ---------------------------- (one year = 8760 hr)
kWmax x 8760

Area under load curve (kW-h)

Average Load = ----------------------------------------
24 (h)
1.1. LOAD-DURATION CURVES
Capacity Factor : (or plant factor)
Average load
n = -------------------------------------
Rated capacity of the plant

kW-h generated in a year kW-hgen (year)

n = ---------------------------------- = ----------------------
kWinst x 24 x 365 kWinst x 8760

If rated capacity of the plant is equal to the peak load,

Then, Load Factor (m) = Capacity Factor (n)

(numerically)
1.1. LOAD-DURATION CURVES
Reserve Factor :
The difference between load factor and capacity
factor is an indication of the reserve factor

kWinst Load Factor (m)

r = -------- = --------------------------
kWmax Capacity Factor (n)
1.1. LOAD-DURATION CURVES
Demand Factor :
Connected Load = sum of the continuous
ratings of all the equipment and outlets on
the consumer’s circuits.

Maximum Demand = is the maximum load

which a consumer uses at any time.
It is always less than, or equal to,
the connected load.
1.1. LOAD-DURATION CURVES
Diversity Factor :
Sum of individual consumer group
div = ----------------------------------------------
Actual peak load of the system

a+b+c
div = -------------
d

The time distribution of maximum demands

for similar types of consumers.
1.1. LOAD-DURATION CURVES
Total Load (d)
Diversity Factor :
kW

Shopping area
offices and
workshops (b) Industry (c )

Residence (a)
12 6 12 6 12
AM PM

Diversity helps to improve the load factor and economic operation of the
power plant.
1.1. LOAD-DURATION CURVES
winter
Diversity Factor :
kW
summer

Residence (a)
12 6 12 6 12
AM PM

Load curves of an industrialized country

1.1. LOAD-DURATION CURVES
Diversity Factor :

A high load factor is, in general, an indication of

balanced load curve with relatively small load
changes.

••• High value of demand factor, load factor, diversity

factor and capacity factor are desired for
economic operation of the plant and to produce
electricity at less cost.
1.1. LOAD-DURATION CURVES
Plant Use Factor :
It is the ratio of energy produced in a given time to
the maximum possible energy that could have
been produced during the same time of operation.

kW-hgen
••• Plant use factor (u) = --------------------------------
kWinst x operating hours

••• If the operating time is 1 year or 8,760 hrs, the

plant use factor is equal to the capacity factor
(i.e., u = n)
1.1. LOAD-DURATION CURVES
Plant Use Factor :
Larger the unit size,

LESS COST to PRODUCED ELECTRICITY

kW-hgen
••• Plant use factor (u) = --------------------------------
kWinst x operating hours

••• If the operating time is 1 year or 8,760 hrs, the

plant use factor is equal to the capacity factor
(i.e., u = n)
1.1. LOAD-DURATION CURVES
MW MW

Nmax

6h 8.6h
2.6h

12 6 12 6 12 0 6 12 18 24
AM PM Day

Load curve Load-duration curve

Load-duration curve indicates how many hours a certain load

has been required in the course of the day.
1.1. LOAD-DURATION CURVES
MW MW

Nmax

6h 8.6h
2.6h

12 6 12 6 12 0 6 12 18 24
AM PM Day

Load curve Load-duration curve

Rearrange the load elements of a chronological curve in the

descending order of magnitude. (see load curve)
1.1. LOAD-DURATION CURVES
MW MW

Nmax

Day
6h 8.6h
2.6h
Month

Year

12 6 12 6 12 0 6 12 18 24-day
AM PM 720-month
Load curve Load-duration curve 8760-month

By compiling the load hours on various days the load duration

curves for one month or for year can be obtained.
1.1. LOAD-DURATION CURVES

Peak Load (15%)

Peak Load
Power Demands

Intermediate load Intermediate load

Base Load (100%) Base Load

Time
Load-duration curve
Load-curve

The area under the annual load duration curve represents the
total energy supplied by the utitlity’s generating system
during the year.
1.1. LOAD-DURATION CURVES

Peak Load (15%)

Peak Load
Power Demands

Intermediate load Intermediate load

Base Load (100%) Base Load

Time
Load-duration curve
Load-curve

The variable load problem affects power plant design and

operation as well as the cost of operation.
1.1. LOAD-DURATION CURVES

Peak Load (15%)

Peak Load
Power Demands

Intermediate load Intermediate load

Base Load (100%) Base Load

Time
Load-duration curve
Load-curve

Base load plant should be run at high LOAD FACTOR

1.1. LOAD-DURATION CURVES

Peak Load (15%)

Peak Load
Power Demands

Intermediate load Intermediate load

Base Load (100%) Base Load

Time
Load-duration curve
Load-curve

Peak load plant should smaller capacity to reduce cost

of operation.
1.1. LOAD-DURATION CURVES

Peak Load (15%)

Peak Load
Power Demands

Intermediate load Intermediate load

Base Load (100%) Base Load

Time
Load-duration curve
Load-curve

Peak load plant could be,

* gas turbine
* pumped-hydro system
* diesel engine
1.1. LOAD-DURATION CURVES

Peak Load (15%)

Peak Load
Power Demands

Intermediate load Intermediate load

Base Load (100%) Base Load

Time
Load-duration curve
Load-curve

Prime movers and generators should act

quickly and take up or shed load without
variation of voltage or frequency of system.
1.1. LOAD-DURATION CURVES

Peak Load (15%)

Peak Load
Power Demands

Intermediate load Intermediate load

Base Load (100%) Base Load

Time
Load-duration curve
Load-curve

The function of governor is to control the

supply of fuel (or steam) to the prime mover
according to load.