Load Factor in Power system

Average load:

The average of Loads occurring on the power station in a given period (Daily or Monthly or Yearly) is known as Average Load or Average Demand.

Daily Average Load = No of units generated in a day / 24 hours

Monthly Average Load (Average demand) : No of units generated in a month / hours in month
Yearly Average Load (Average demand) : No of units generated in a year / 8760 hours

No of units generated in a day = Daily Average Load x 24

Load Factor in Power System:

The Ratio of Average load to the Maximum demand during a given period is known as Load factor. OR The ratio of the area under the load curve to the total area of Rectangle in which it is contained gives the Load Factor.

          Load Factor =  Average Load / Maximum Demand

Load factor always less than one , because average load is smaller than Maximum demand. Higher the load factor, lesser the cost per units generated.

                    OR Load Factor  =  Area under daily load curve / Total area of Rectangle in which the load curve is contained    

          Load Factor =  Average Load / Maximum Demand ,

(Yearly Average Load = No of units generated in an year / 8760 hours)

        Load factor = No of units generated in a year / (Maximum demand x 8760)

 No of units generated in a year = Load factor  x Maximum demand x 8760

Connected Load & Maximum Demand