A.

VARIABLE LOAD - LECTURE

1. Terms and Factors

Reserve over peak – is the plant capacity less the peak load.

Average load – is the ratio of the kilowatt-hours of energy to the period covered.

Diversity factor – is the ratio of the sum of the individual maximum demands of the various subdivisions of a system,
or part of a system, to the maximum demand of the whole system, or part, under consideration.

Demand factor – is the ratio of the maximum demand of a system, or part of a system, to the total connected load
of the system, or part of the system, under consideration.

Load factor – is the ratio of the average load over a designated period of time to the peak load occurring in that
period. The average load may be determined for any specified length of time such as day, month, or year.

Capacity factor – is the ratio of the average load on a machine or equipment, for the period of time considered, to
the rating of the machine or equipment. When applied to a plant, this factor is called plant factor or plant-capacity
factor.

Output factor, or use factor – is the ratio of the actual energy output, in the period of time considered, to the energy
output which would have occurred if the machine or equipment had been operating at its full rating throughout its
actual hours of service during the period.

Load curve – is a curve of power versus time, showing the value of a specific load for each unit of the period
covered. The abscissa is usually time in hours, days, weeks, months, or years, and the ordinate is kilowatts
generated.

Monthly load curve – is the average of the daily load curves over a one-month period that is used in establishing
rates.

Annual load curve – is the average of the daily load curves over a period of one year that is used in determining the
annual load factor.

Load duration curve – is a curve showing the total time, within a specified period, during which the load equaled or
exceeded the power values 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.

Utilization factor - is the ratio of the maximum demand of a system, or part of a system, to the rated capacity of the
system, or part of the system, under consideration.
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 A. VARIABLE LOAD - LECTURE

Connected load on a system, or part of a system – is the sum of the continuous ratings of the load-consuming
apparatus connected to the system, or part of the system, under consideration.

Operation factor – is the ratio of the duration of the actual service of a machine or equipment to the total duration
of the actual service of a machine or equipment to the total duration of the period of time considered.

Dump power – is hydro power in excess of load requirements that is made available by surplus water.

Firm power – is the power intended to be always available even under emergency conditions.

Prime power – is the maximum potential power (chemical, mechanical, or hydraulic) constantly available for
transformation into electric power.

Cold reserve – is that reserve generating capacity available for service but not in operation.

Hot reserve – is that reserve generating capacity in operation but not in service.

Reserve equipment – is the installed equipment in excess of that required to carry peak load. Reserve equipment
not in operation is sometimes referred to as standby equipment.

Spinning reserve – is that reserve generating capacity connected to the bus and ready to take load. System reserve is
the capacity, in equipment and conductors, installed on the system in excess of that required to carry the peak load.

Run-of-river station – is a hydroelectric generating station which utilizes the stream flow without storage.

Spare equipment – is equipment complete or in parts, on hand for repair or replacement.

Generating station auxiliary power – is the power required for operation.

House turbine – is a turbine installed to provide a source of auxiliary power.

Base-load power plants – include steam, hydroelectric, and geothermal power plants.

Peak-load power plants – include diesel-electric and gas turbine power plants.

2. Equations
Reserve over peak = plant capacity − peak load
kw − hrs energy
Average load =
no. of hours
average load
Load factor =
peak load
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 A. VARIABLE LOAD - LECTURE

actual energy produced

Capacity factor =
maximum possible energy
annual kw − hrs
Annual capacity factor =
kw plant capacity × 8760
annual kw − hrs
Use factor =
kw plant capacity × no. of hrs operation
actual maximum demand
Demand factor =
connected load
sum of individual maximum demands
Diversity factor =
maximum simultaneous demand
average load
Plant factor =
rating of equipment supplying the load
maximum demand of system
Utilization factor =
rated capacity of system
duration of actual service
Operation factor =
total duration of the period of time considered

3. Elements of an Electric Power System

3.1 Power Plant
3.2 Substations
3.3 Feeders
3.4 Distribution transformers
3.5 Customers – domestic, industrial, business, etc.

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