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.