Load Curves

 A load curve is a plot of the load demand (on the y-

axis) versus the time (on the x-axis) in the
chronological order
 It is a curve showing the variation of load on the
power station with respect to time.
 The load on power plants will always be changing
with time and will not be constant because consumer
of electric power will use the power as and when
required.
 Load curve is graphical representation between load
in kW and time.
 It shows variation of load on the power station.
 If the time is in hours then the load curve is known as
daily load curve
 If the time is in days, the load curve is known as
monthly load curve and if the time is in months, the
load curve is known as yearly or annual load curve
 The daily load curve will be different for different type
of consumers and different localities
 These load curves may show different pattern during
summer, winter and rainy season.
 The combined daily load curve for all types of
consumers is shown in figure (a) and the
approximated curve for simplicity is shown in
figure (b).
Load Duration Curves
 Load duration curve is simply a re-arrangement of
daily load curve with loads set up in descending
order of magnitude.
 The load duration curve indicates for how many
hours a certain load is required in a day.
Terms and Definitions
1. Connected Load
Connected load is the sum of ratings in kilowatts (kW)
of equipment installed in the consumer’s premises
The connected loads in the premises of a consumer are
shown in figure below
Total load connected in the consumer’s premises
= 40 + 1000 + 60 + 40 + 20 + 500 + 25 + 60 = 1745 W
2. Demand
•The demand of an installation or system is the load that is drawn
from the source of supply at the receiving terminals averaged over a
suitable and specified interval of time
• Demand is expressed in kilowatts (kW) or other suitable units.

3. Maximum Demand or Peak Load

It is the maximum load which a consumer uses at any time. It can
be less than or equal to connected load.
 If all the equipment fitted in consumer’s premises run to their
fullest extent simultaneously then the maximum demand will be
equal to connected load
But generally the actual maximum demand is less than the
connected load because all the devices never run at full load at the
same time.
4. Demand Factor
 It is defined as the ratio of maximum demand to
connected loads
5. Average Load
 This is the ratio of the area under the load curve
(energy in kWh) divided by the time period (24
hours) considered to draw the load curve
Average load = Area under load curve/24
= Energy Consumed in 24 hrs/24
5. Load Factor
 It is the ratio of average load to maximum load or peak
load
 Load and demand factors are always less than unit
 Load factor plays a major part on the cost of the
generating unit
 The higher the load factor the lesser will be the cost of
generation per unit for the same maximum demand
Load Factor = Average Load/ Maximum Load
6. Diversity Factor
 It is the ratio of the sum of maximum demands of the
individual consumers and the simultaneous
maximum demand of the whole group during a
particular time
Diversity Factor = Sum of Individual Maximum
Demands/ Simultaneous Maximum Demand at a
Given Time
 Diversity factor is always greater than unity
7. Plant Capacity Factor
 It is defined as the ratio of actual energy produced in
kWh to the maximum possible energy that could have
been produced during the same period
 Plant Capacity Factor = Average Load x 24/ Plant
Capacity x 24 = Average Load / Plant Capacity
 The difference between the load and plant capacity
factors is an indication of reserve capacity
 The capacity shows how near the plant runs to its full
ratings
 The high levels of load factor, capacity factor, diversity
factor and demand factor are always desirable for
economic operation of the plant and to produce
energy at cheaper rate
8. Plant Use Factor
 It is defined as the ratio of energy produced at a given
time to the maximum possible energy that could have
been produced during the actual number of hours the
plant was in operation
 It shows the extent to which the plant capacity is used
to meet the peak demand
Plant Use Factor = Annual Energy Produced
/Capacity of Plant x No. of Hours Plant is In
Operation During the Year
 Importance of Load Factor and
Diversity Factor
(1) Load Factor
 Load factor is the ratio of average load to maximum load
on the power plant.
 The load factor will increase if the average load increases
without the increase in maximum load. Thus, the total
number of units of energy generated (kWh) at higher load
factor would increase.
 But the annual fixed charges per unit of energy generated
would reduce with the increase in load factor.
 Hence, the annual fixed charges per unit of energy
generated would reduce with the increase in load factor.
As a result the overall cost per unit of energy generated
reduces.
(2) Diversity Factor
Base Load and Peak Load Power
Plants
Base Load
 Is the varying load that occurs almost the whole day on
the station

Referring to the load curve

20MW is the base load of the
station

It can be supplied without

facing the problems of a
variable load
Peak Load
 The various peak demands of load over and above
the base load of the station is known as peak load

Peak loads generally form a

small
Part of the total load
 Method of Meeting the Load
 The best method is to interconnect different power stations
 Advantages
o Exchange of peak loads:- if the peak demand is greater
than the rated plant capacity, excess load can be shared
by other plants
o Ensures economical operation:- efficient stations work
continuously at high load factors and less efficient ones
work for peak load hours only
o Increases reliability of supply
 Number and Size of Generating
Units
 Load on power station varies with time
 A single unit is not economical to meet the varying
load
o Will have poor efficiency during periods of light
loads
 In practice a number of generating units of different
sizes are installed in a power station
 The selection of the number and sizes of the units
depend on the annual load curve of the station
 The number and size of units are selected in such a
way that they correctly fit the station load curve
 Consider annual load curve for the station as shown
below
 The load on the station has wide variations
 Minimum load close to 50KW and maximum load
reaching 500KW
 Therefore, the use of a single unit to meet the
varying load will be very uneconomical
Important Points in Selecting Units
 The number and sizes should be selected to
approximately fit the annual load curve
 The capacity of the plant should be made 15%-20%
more than the maximum demand to meet the future
load requirements
 There should be a spare generating unit so that repairs
and overhauling of the working units can be carried out
 The tendency to select a large number of units of
smaller capacity should be avoided because the
investment per kW of capacity increases as the size of
units decreases
 END