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Economics of Power Generation: Load Curve

The document discusses key concepts related to the economics of power generation. The total cost of power generation is made up of fixed and operating expenses. The cost can be minimized by choosing equipment that operates most of the time, reducing investment costs, operating with fewer employees, having a uniform design, and selecting locations that reduce fuel and labor costs. A power station must regulate energy generation to match demand, which varies over time. Several terms are defined that describe concepts like load curves, maximum demand, average load, base load, connected load, peak load, and various factors relating loads to equipment ratings.

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88 views3 pages

Economics of Power Generation: Load Curve

The document discusses key concepts related to the economics of power generation. The total cost of power generation is made up of fixed and operating expenses. The cost can be minimized by choosing equipment that operates most of the time, reducing investment costs, operating with fewer employees, having a uniform design, and selecting locations that reduce fuel and labor costs. A power station must regulate energy generation to match demand, which varies over time. Several terms are defined that describe concepts like load curves, maximum demand, average load, base load, connected load, peak load, and various factors relating loads to equipment ratings.

Uploaded by

alina
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Economics of Power Generation

Introduction to Economics of Power Generation:

The function of a power station is to deliver power at the lowest possible cost per kilo watt hour.
This total cost is made up of fixed charges consisting of interest on the capital, taxes, insurance,
depreciation and salary of managerial staff, the operating expenses such as cost of fuels, water,
oil, labor, repairs and maintenance etc.

The cost of power generation can be minimized by :

1. Choosing equipment that is available for operation during the largest possible % of time in a
year.

2. Reducing the amount of investment in the plant.

3. Operation through fewer men.

4. Having uniform design

5. Selecting the station as to reduce cost of fuel, labor, etc.

All the electrical energy generated in a power station must be consumed immediately as it cannot
be stored. So the electrical energy generated in a power station must be regulated according to
the demand. The demand of electrical energy or load will also vary with the time and a power
station must be capable of meeting the maximum load at any time. Certain definitions related to
power station practice are given below:

Load curve :

Load curve is plot of load in kilowatts versus time usually for a day or a year.

Load duration curve :

Load duration curve is the plot of load in kilowatts versus time duration for which it occurs.
Maximum demand :

Maximum demand is the greatest of all demands which have occurred during a given period of
time.

Average load :

Average load is is the average load on the power station in a given period (day/month or year)

Base load :

Base load is the minimum load over a given period of time.

Connected load :

Connected load of a system is the sum of the continuous ratings of the load consuming apparatus
connected to the system.

Peak load :

Peak load is the maximum load consumed or produced by a unit or group of units in a stated
period of time. It may be the maximum instantaneous load or the maximum average load over a
designated interval of time.

Demand factor :

Demand factor is the ratio of maximum demand to the connected load of a consumer.

Diversity factor :

Diversity factor is the ratio of sum of individual maximum demands to the combined maximum
demand on power stations

Load factor :

Load factor is the ratio of average load during a specified period to the maximum load occurring
during the period.

Load factor = Average Load / Maximum demand


Station load factor :

Station load factor is the ratio of net power generated to the net maximum demand on a power
station.

Plant factor :

Plant factor is the ratio of the average load on the plant for the period of time considered, to the
aggregate rating of the generating equipment installed in the plant.

Capacity factor :

Capacity factor is the ratio of the average load on the machine for a period of time considered, to
the rating of the machine.

Demand factor :

Demand factor is the ratio of maximum demand of system or part of system, to the total
connected load of the system, or part of system, under consideration.

Source : http://nprcet.org/e%20content/Misc/e-Learning/EEE/IV%20YEAR/EE1452%20-
%20Electric%20Energy%20Generation,%20Conservation%20and%20Utilization.pdf

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