Power Generation/Variable Load/Part3

A load curve is a graph showing the variation of load on the power station with respect to time. the following load curves are used in power stations:

  • Daily load curve: -- Load variations captured during the day ( 24Hrs ), recorded either half-hourly or hourly.
  • Monthly load curve: -- Load variations captured during the month at different times of the day plotted aginst No. of days.
  • Yearly load curve: -- Load variations captured during the Year, this is derived from monthly load curves of a particular year.


Information obtained from load curves:

  • Area under load curve = Units generated
  • Highest point of the curve = MD
  • (Area under curve) ÷ (by total hours) = Average load
  • (Area under load curve) ÷ (Area of rectangle containing load curve) = LF
  • Helps to select size & number of generating units.
  • Helps to create operating schedule of the power plant.