Load Curve and Load Duration Curve

A load curve may be a plot of the load demand (on the y-axis) versus the time (on the x-axis) within the written record order. it’s a curve showing the variation of load on the facility station with relation to (w.r.t) time. Please bear the consequences of variable load on the facility station.

Load curve is that the variation of the load with time on an influence Station. because the load on an influence Station ne’er stay constant rather it varies from time to time, these variations in load is premeditated on 0.5 hourly or hourly basis for the complete day. The curve so obtained is understood because of the Daily Load Curve.

A graphical plot showing the variation in demand for energy of the shoppers on a supply of provide with relation to time is understood because of the load curve.

If this curve is premeditated over a period of time of twenty-four hours, it’s referred to as the daily load curve. If it’s premeditated for every week, month, or a year, then its named because of the weekly, monthly or yearly load curve severally.

The load length curve reflects the activity of a population quite accurately in relation to wattage consumption over a given amount of your time. to know the thought higher it is vital that we tend to take the real-life example of load distribution for associate industrial load and a residential load, and have a case study on them, to be ready to appreciate its utility from {the perspective|the attitude|the associategle} of an engineer.

Therefore, by having a glance at the Load Curve, we will check the height load on an influence Station and its variation. From the figure below, it’s quite clear that the height load (6 MW) on a specific station is at vi P.M.

The monthly load curve is often planned exploitation the daily load curve for a selected month. For this purpose, the common load for a special time for the entire month is calculated and also the worth therefore obtained is planned against the clock to urge the Monthly Load Curve. Monthly Load Curve is employed to mend the speed of energy.

In the same manner, the Yearly Load Curve is often obtained exploitation the twelve monthly load curves. The Yearly Load Curve is employed for hard the Annual ratio.

The monthly load curve is often obtained from the daily load curves of that month. For this purpose. average values of power over a month at completely different times of the day area unit calculated then planned on the graph. The monthly load curve is usually accustomed fix the rates of energy. The yearly load curve is obtained by considering the monthly load curves of that specific year. The yearly load curve is usually accustom verify the annual ratio.

Importance of Load Curve:

  • From the daily load curve, we can have an insight of load at a different time for a day.
  • The average load per day on the Power Station can be calculated using the daily load curve.
  • The peak point on the daily load curve gives the highest demand on the Power Station for that day.
  • Load curve helps in deciding the size and number of Generating Units.
  • Load curve helps in the preparing the operation schedule of the generating units.
  • Average load = Area under the daily Load Curve (kWh)/ 24 hrs.

  • Load Factor = Avg. Load / maximum Load =  Avg. Load x24 / 24xmaximum Load                                        = Area under daily Load Curve/Area of Rectangle having Daily Load Curve

  • The area under the daily load curve gives the total units of electric energy generated.
    •          Units Generated / day = Area under the daily Load Curve in kW

    The utility of Load Curve:

    The following are the utility of the load curve.

    1. It decides the operating schedules of the power station, i.e., the sequence in which the different generating units should run.
    2. The load curve estimates the generating cost.
    3.  It is helpful in choosing the most economical sizes of the various generating units.
    4. Load curve decides the installed capacity of a power station.

    Significance of Load Curve

    From the daily load curve shown above, the following information can be obtained.
    1. Observe the variation of load on the power system during different hours of the day.

    2.The area of this curve divided by 24 hours gives the average load on the power station in the day.

    3. It helps in the selection of the rating and number of generating units required.

    4. An area under this curve gives the number of units generated in a day.

    5. The highest point on that curve indicates the maximum demand on the power station on that day.