VARIABLE LOAD PROBLEMS

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 Terms Related to Loading Conditions

Diversity factor is the ratio of the sum of the

individual maximum demands of the various Demand factor is the ratio of the maximum
subdivisions of a system, or part of a system, to demand of a system, or part of a system, to the
the maximum demand of the whole system, or total connected load of the system, or part of the
part, under consideration. system, under consideration.
The particular subdivision under consideration Thus, in a residence the maximum demand would
may be one substation where there are several in not be the sum of all lighting and appliance loads
a system or may be group of residential but would be some value less than that, since it
customers supplied by one transformer. would extremely unlikely that all lights and
As stated, the diversity factor will be a number appliances would be in operation at the same
greater than unity. At times the diversity factor is time.
given as the reciprocal of that stated above.
Maximum demand of the system
Demand factor =
Sum of individual maximum demands Total connected load
Diversity factor =
Maximum demand of the system

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 Terms Related to Loading Conditions

Load factor is the ratio of the average load over a Capacity factor is the ratio of the average load on
designated period of time to the peak load a machine or equipment, for the period of time
occurring in that period. The average load may be considered, to the rating of the machine or
determined for any specified length of time such equipment. When applied to a plant, this factor is
as day, month, or year. The maximum demand called plant factor or plant-capacity factor.
may also be measured over various lengths of
time such as a 15-min period, half-hour period, or
an hour period. The first two are the most Average load
Capacity factor =
common. Rating of Equipment

Average load
Load factor = Actual Energy Output
Peak load Capacity factor =
Rating of Equipment  Specified Period

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 Terms Related to Loading Conditions

Output factor, or use factor, is the ratio of the Load curve is a curve of power versus time,
actual energy output, in the period of time showing the value of a specific load for each unit
considered, to the energy output which would of the period covered. The abscissa is usually
have occurred if the machine or equipment had time in hours, days, weeks, months, or years, and
been operating at its full rating throughout its the ordinate is kilowatts generated. The most
actual hours of service during the period. common period of time is hours.

Load duration curve is a curve showing the total

time, within a specified period, during which the
Actual Energy Output load equaled or exceeded the power values
Use factor =
Rating of Equipment  Actual hrs operation shown. Kilowatts are used as the ordinate, and
normally, the 8760 hr of the year is the abscissa.

Peak load is the maximum load consumed or

produced by a unit or group of units in a stated
period of time. It may be the maximum
instantaneous load or the maximum average load
over a designated interval of time.

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 Terms Related to Loading Conditions

Utilization factor is the ratio of the maximum Connected load on a system, or part of a system,
demand of a system, or part of a system, to the is the sum of the continuous ratings of the load-
rated capacity of the system, or part of the consuming apparatus connected to the system, or
system, under consideration. The similarity part of the system, under consideration.
between this factor and the demand factor
should be noted. Their difference lies in the fact Operation factor is the ratio of the duration of the
that the utilization factor is usually applied to the actual service of a machine or equipment to the
generating system, while the demand factor is total duration of the period of time considered.
usually applied to equipment using electric
current.
Duration of the actual service
Operation factor =
Duration of the period of time considered
Maximum Demand
Utilization factor =
Rating of Equipment

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 Terms Related to Loading Conditions

Dump power is hydro power in excess of load Spinning reserve is that reserve generating
requirements that is made available by surplus capacity connected to the bus and ready to take
water. load.
Firm power is the power intended to be always System reserve is the capacity, in equipment and
available even under emergency conditions. conductors, installed on the system in excess of
Prime power is the maximum potential power that required to carry the peak load.
(chemical, mechanical, or hydraulic) constantly Run-of-river station is a hydroelectric generating
available for transformation into electric power. station which utilizes the stream flow without
Cold reserve is that reserve generating capacity storage.
available for service but not in operation. Spare equipment is equipment complete or in
Hot reserve is that reserve generating capacity in parts, on hand for repair or replacement.
operation but not in service. Generating station auxiliary power is the power
Reserve equipment is the installed equipment in required for operation.
excess of that required to carry peak load. House turbine is a turbine installed to provide a
Reserve equipment not in operation is source of auxiliary power.
sometimes referred to as standby equipment.

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 Sample Problems

1. A unit is rated at 80,000 kW. It operates for 2. A 25,000 kW plant has a utilization factor of
6950 hrs during the year and generates 71% and a load factor of 39.6%. What is the
350,000,000 kW-hr. With a peak load of 75,500 average load on the plant in kW?
kW, calculate the capacity factor.
Given:
Given: Rating of Equipment or Plant = 25,000 kW
Rating of Equipment = 80,000 kW Utilization factor = 0.71
Specified period = 1 year = 8760 hrs Load factor = 0.396
Required: Required:
Capacity factor Average Load
Solution: Maximum Demand
Solution: Utilization factor =
Actual Energy Output = 350,000,000 kW=hr Rating of Equipment
Maximum Demand
0.71 =
25,000
Actual Energy Output
Capacity factor = Peak load = Maximum Demand = 17,750 kW
Rating of Equipment  Specified Period
Average load
(answer) Load factor =
Peak load
Average load
350,000,000 0.396 =
Capacity factor = = 0.50 = 50% 17,750
80,000  8760

Average load = 7029 kW (answer)

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 Sample Problems

3. A steam cycle produces 40 MW of power, 50 4. For a certain power plant, the load factor is 48%.
MW of process heat and rejects 60 MW of The plant capacity is 42 MW. If the reserve over
heat. What is the utilization factor for this peak is 5 MW and the number of hours the plant
cycle? not in service per year is 420, calculate the plant
capacity factor.
Given:
Given: Load factor = 0.48
40 MW of power, 50 MW of process heat and Plant capacity = 42 MW
rejects 60 MW of heat
Reserve over peak = 5 MW
Required: Number of hours not in service = 420
Utilization factor Required:
Solution: Plant Capacity Factor
Maximum Demand Solution:
Utilization factor = Average load
Rating of Equipment Plant Capacity factor =
Maximum Demand = 40 MW + 50 MW = 90 MW Plant capacity
Average load
Rating of Equipment/Cycle = 40 MW + 50 MW + Load factor =
Peak load
60 MW = 150 MW Peak load = Plant Capacity – Reserve over peak
90
Peak load = 42 MW – 5 MW = 37 MW
Utilization factor = = 0.6 = 60% (answer) Average load
150 0.48 =
37
Average load = 17.76 MW
Average load
Plant Capacity factor =
Plant capacity
17.76
Plant Capacity factor = = 0.423 = 42.3% (answer)
42

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 Sample Problems

5. The reserve over and above the peak load of a 6. A power plant is to have had a use factor of
power station is 20 MW. For an annual 46.5% and a capacity factor of 40.5%.
factors as follows: load, 75% and capacity, Determine the number of hours did the
60%; determine the rated capacity of the plant operated during the year.
power plant.
Given:
Given: Plant use factor = 0.465
Load factor = 0.75 Plant capacity factor = 0.405
Capacity factor = 0.60 Specified period = 1 year = 8760 hrs
Reserve = 20 MW Required:
Required: Actual hrs of operation
Rated capacity of the power plant Solution:
Solution: Average load
Plant Capacity factor =
(Load Factor)(Peak Load) = (Capacity Plant capacity
Factor)(Rated Capacity) = Average Load
Actual Energy Output
(0.75)(Peak Load) = (0.60)(Rated Capacity) Plant Use factor =
Plant Capacity  Actual hrs operation
Rated Capacity – Peak Load = 20 MW = Reserve
Average load  Specified period
(0.75)(Rated Capacity – 20) = (0.60)(Rated Plant Use factor =
Capacity) Plant Capacity  Actual hrs operation

Rated Capacity = 100 MW (answer) Average load = Plant Capacity factor  Plant capacity

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 Sample Problems

Plant Use factor  Plant Capacity  Actual hrs operation

Average load =
Specified period

Plant Use factor  Plant Capacity  Actual hrs operation

Plant Capacity factor  Plant Capacity =
Specified period

Plant Use factor  Actual hrs operation

Plant Capacity factor =
Specified period

0.465  Actual hrs operation

0.405 =
8760

Actual hrs of operation = 7630 hrs (answer)

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