6/2/22, 11:18 PM Demand Factor, Load Factor, and Diversity Factor

Demand Factor, Load Factor, and Diversity Factor

Demand Factor
The demand factor of an electric power station is defined as the ratio of maximum demand on
the power station to its connected load, i.e.,

Maximum Demand
Demand Factor =
Connected Load

Generally, the value of demand factor is less than 1. It is because the maximum demand on the
power station is usually less than the connected load to the power station. The knowledge of
demand factor is important in determining the capacity of equipment of the power plant.

Numerical Example (1)

A generating station has a connected load of 50 MW and a maximum demand of 30 MW.
Determine the demand factor of the power station.

Solution

Given,

Maximum Demand = 30 MW and Connected Load = 50 MW

Maximum Demand
∵ Demand Factor =
Connected Load

30 MW
∴ Demand Factor = = 0.6
50 MW

Load Factor
The load factor of a power station is defined as the ratio of average load to the maximum
demand on the power station during a given period, i.e.,

Average Load
Load Factor =
Maximum Demand

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6/2/22, 11:18 PM Demand Factor, Load Factor, and Diversity Factor

If the power station is in operation for T hours, then the load factor is given by,

Average Load × T
Load Factor =
Maximum Demand T

Total units generated in T hours

∴ Load Factor =
Maximum Demand × T

The load factor can be daily load factor, monthly load factor or annual load factor if the time
period (T) considered is a day or a month or a year respectively. The load factor of a power
station is always less than 1. It is because the average load on the power station is smaller than
the maximum demand. The load factor is very important because it is used to determine the
overall cost per unit generated, i.e., if the load factor of the power station is higher, then the cost
per unit generated will be lesser.

Numerical Example (2)

The maximum demand on a power generating plant is 2000 kW. If the number of units (in kWh)
generated per year is 50 ☓ 104. Determine the annual load factor of the plant.

Solution

The load factor of the power station is given by,

Average Load
Load Factor =
Maximum Demand

4
Units generated per annum 50 × 10
∵ Average load = = 57.078 kW
Hours in a year 8760

57.078
∴ Annual Load Factor = 0.0285 = 2.85%
2000

Diversity Factor
The diversity factor of the power station is defined as the ratio of sum of individual maximum
demands to the maximum demand on the power station, i.e.,

Sum of individual maximum demands

Diversity Factor =
Maximum demand on the power station

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6/2/22, 11:18 PM Demand Factor, Load Factor, and Diversity Factor

The diversity factor of a power station is always greater than 1. The diversity factor plays a vital
role in the determination of cost of generation of power. The greater is the diversity factor, the
lesser is the cost of generation of power.

Numerical Example (3)

A diesel power plant supplies the following loads to various consumers −

Domestic light = 500 kW

Domestic power = 100 kW

Industrial consumers = 2000 kW

Commercial establishments = 700 kW

If the maximum demand on the power station is 3000 kW. Determine the diversity factor of the
power plant.

Solution

The diversity factor of a power station is given by,

Sum of individual maximum demands

Diversity Factor =
Maximum demand on the power station

(500 + 100 + 2000 + 700)kW

⇒ Diversity Factor = = 1.1
3000 kW

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