Different factor connected with Generating station - Understanding Connected Load, Maximum Demand, and Load-Related Factors in Power Systems

🔌 What is Connected Load?

Definition:
Connected load is the total of the rated capacities (in watts or kilowatts) of all electrical appliances and devices that are connected to a power supply system, regardless of whether they are operating at the same time.

📍 Example of Connected Load:

Consider a residential home with the following devices:

• 5 Fans × 75W = 375W
• 5 Tube lights × 80W = 400W
• 5 LED lights × 20W = 100W
• 1 Refrigerator = 200W
• 2 Coolers × 100W = 200W

Total Connected Load = 375 + 400 + 100 + 200 + 200 = 1275W

✅ Connected Load = 1275W

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⚡ What is Maximum Demand?

Definition:
Maximum demand is the highest level of electrical load or demand recorded by a system over a specific period (hourly, daily, weekly, etc.).

📍 Example of Maximum Demand:

Time Period	Power Demand (W)
11 AM – 1 PM	1000W
1 PM – 5 PM	800W
5 PM – 10 PM	900W
10 PM – 4 AM	800W
4 AM – 11 AM	700W

✅ Maximum Demand = 1000W (during 11 AM – 1 PM)

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📊 What is Demand Factor?

Definition:
Demand Factor is the ratio of Maximum Demand to the Connected Load.

$$\text{Demand Factor} = \frac{\text{Maximum Demand}}{\text{Connected Load}} = \frac{1000}{1275} \approx 0.78$$

✅ Demand Factor = 78%

🔍Demand factor helps optimize power system design, reducing overestimation in capacity planning.

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⚙️ What is Utilization Factor?

Definition:
Utilization factor is the ratio of Maximum Demand to the Rated Capacity of the system.

$$\text{Utilization Factor} = \frac{\text{Maximum Demand}}{\text{Rated Capacity}}$$

According to MNRE (2013), the average Capacity Utilization Factor (CUF) of solar PV plants in India ranges between 15% to 19%.

✅ Example: If a system has a rated capacity of 5kW and a maximum demand of 3.5kW:

$$\text{Utilization Factor}=\frac{3.5}{5}=0.7\text{ or }70\mathrm{\%}$$

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📈 What is Average Load?

Definition:
Average Load is the total energy consumed divided by the time duration. It can also be estimated by the area under the load curve divided by the total time.

$$\text{Average Load}=\frac{\text{Total Energy Consumed}}{\text{Time Period}}$$

This gives a clear picture of how much power is being consumed on average over time.

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🔄 What is Load Factor?

Definition:
Load factor is the ratio of Average Load to Maximum Demand.

$$\text{Load Factor} = \frac{\text{Average Load}}{\text{Maximum Demand}}$$

✅ Higher load factor indicates more efficient usage of electrical energy.

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🧮 What is Diversity Factor?

Definition:
Diversity factor is the ratio of the Sum of Individual Maximum Demands to the Coincident Maximum Demand of the entire system.

$$\text{Diversity Factor} = \frac{\text{Sum of Individual MDs}}{\text{System MD}}$$

• When all users do not reach their peak loads at the same time, the diversity factor increases.
• It is always greater than 1.

🏠 Example: In a residential area, not all homes will use maximum power simultaneously—some use it in the morning, some at night.

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🔻 What is Loss Factor?

Definition:
Loss factor is the ratio of the Average Power Loss to the Power Loss at Maximum Load over a given period.

$$\text{Loss Factor} = \frac{\text{Average Power Loss}}{\text{Maximum Power Loss}}$$This helps in understanding energy losses in transmission and distribution systems.

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✅ Conclusion

Understanding these load-related factors is essential for:

• Designing efficient electrical systems
• Optimizing energy consumption
• Planning proper tariffs and billing
• Enhancing system reliability