LOAD ESTIMATION

Introduction:
Before specific electric power sources and distribution systems can be considered, realistic preliminary
load data must be compiled. The expected electric power demand on intermediate substations, and on the
main electric power supply, shall be calculated from the connected load layout by applying appropriate
factors. Determine these factors by load analysis and by combining loads progressively. To combine the
loads, start at the ends of the smallest feeders and work back to the Electric power source. Because all
loads must be on a common kilowatt (kW) or kilovolt- ampere (kVA) basis, it is necessary to convert
motor horsepower ratings to input kilowatts or kilovolt-amperes before combining them with other loads
already expressed in those terms. Preliminary electric power load estimates can be made by using the
approximate value of one kilovolt-ampere of input per horsepower (HP) at full load.
The electric load in electricity distribution varies with time and place (See examples of load variation of
three types of customers in figure) and the power production and distribution system must respond to
customers’ load demand at any time. Therefore modern electricity distribution utilities need accurate load
data for pricing planning, tariff planning and power production planning.
The load information mostly is needed to know how customer or group of customers uses electric energy
at different hours of day, different days of week and seasons of year.

TERMINOLOGY
Five terms are essential to the analysis of load characteristics: demand factor, coincidence factor, diversity
factor, load factor and maximum demand. These terms are defined below.
DEMAND FACTOR:
The demand factor is the ratio of themaximumdemand on a system to the total connected load of the
system or EQUATION: Demand factor = Maximum demand load Total load connected
The demand factor is the ratio of the maximum demand of a system to the total connected load (maximum
demand when all are used).
The demand factor is usually less than one.
The lower the demand factor, the less system capacity required to serve the connected load.
Demand factor for residential buildings according to IEC.
Illumination: 50% of total connected load.
Small appliance circuits: 100% of rated load for maximum outlet wattage in the circuit plus 40% of the
total connected loads of other outlets in the circuit.
Fixed appliance circuits and Fixed electric ranges: 100% of rated load of largest equipment plus 50% for
rated load for the 1st equipment following the largest one plus 33% for the 2nd equipment following the
largest load plus 20% of total connected load of other equipment.
Electric water heaters: 100% of rated load of largest equipment plus 100% for rated load for the 1st
equipment following the largest one plus 25% of total connected load of other equipment.
Air-conditioning units: 100% of total connected load in all cases.

Demand factor for residential building according to Egypt.

In general.
Illumination: 90% of total connected load.
Normal sockets and power sockets: 40% of total connected load.
Motors and air conditioning: 100% of total connected load.

Type of load Demand

Cinemas factor
0.7 - 0.9
Shops 0.5

Theaters 0.6 - 0.8

Lifts 0.85 - 0.95
Hospitals
Kitchen 0.6
Lifts 1

Laundry 0.6
 Sterilization 0.4

Medical equipment 0.6

Industry
Lighting. 1
General purpose equipment 0.4
Semi-continuous operations: paper mills, refineries, rubber, 0.6

Continuous operations: textile mills, chemicals, etc. 0.9

Diversified load.
Used for group of loads differ in consumption. Example
Building contains commercial loads, industrial loads and residential loads. There is diversity between
each part and also between each load in the part.

COINCIDENCE FACTOR:
The coincidence factor is the ratio of the maximum demand of a system, or part under consideration, to
the sum of the individual maximum demands of the subdivisions or EQUATION: Coincidence factor =
Maximum systemdemand Sum of individual maximum demands

DIVERSITY FACTOR:
The diversity factor is the reciprocal of the
coincidence factor or EQUATION: Diversity factor =
Sum of individual maximum demands Maximum
system demand
Ratio of the maximum non-coincident demand to the
maximum diversified demand.
The greater the diversity factor, the less the cost of
power generation.

Simultaneity factor
Simultaneity factor is an inverse of diversity factor.
Simultaneity factor is higher than one
Utilization factor.
The time that equipment is in use divided by the total time that it
could be in use.
In an industrial installation this factor is estimated on an average at
0.75 for motors.
For incandescent-lighting loads, the factor always equals 1.
For socket-outlet circuits, the factors depend on the type of appliances being supplied from the sockets
concerned.

LOAD FACTOR:

The load factor is the ratio of the average load over a designated period of time, usually 1 year, to the
maximum load occurring in that period or EQUATION: Loadfactor = Average load Maximum load

MAXIMUM DEMAND:

The maximum demand is the integrated demand for a specified time interval, i.e., 5 minutes, 15minutes,
30 minutes, or other appropriate time intervals, rather than the instantaneous or peak demand.

Classification of electrical loads:

Load of lighting
Load of air conditioning devices and heating devices 3- Load of firefighting pumps and water heating
devices
4- Load of small appliances (sockets – TVs – office devices) 5- Load of elevators
6- Load of light current devices (fire alarm – sound system – CCTV)

Methods of Electrical load estimation:

There are five methods for Electrical Load Estimation, which are:
A. Preliminary load calculation which divides to:
Space by space (functional area method)
Building Area method.
Area method.
B.NEC load calculations.
C. Final load calculations.

Difference between preliminary and final load estimate:

Codes used in project:
NEC Code:
Egyptian Code:

Lighting load estimation:

The standard lighting load(watt/m2) differs according to the nature of the building; the table
shows here the standards for each building.
Sockets load estimation:

Consider every socket has a load of 250VA. the sum of loads at thesingle line is equal to
2000VA maximum. The NEC code table
:

Air conditioning load estimation:

The Egyptian code points out the calculations for AC

Elevators load calculations:

Estimation of primarily load of elevator:

1- Determine whether the machine used is with gears or without gears 2- Number of
elevators inside the building
The speed of elevator
How much does the elevator weight
Demand factor of the number of elevators

By identifying factors in this steps; we can estimate the horse power for the elevator.
-The Egyptian code for determining the speed
-Egyptian code for the gear-supported and gearless elevators

Calculation of the weight depends on the weight of cabins and load inside the cabin; so assume
the cabin of weight 750 kg and a load of 5 persons each 80 kg Therefore, 750+ 80x5= 1150 kg
by then we can calculate the rating of the motor using this curves:

Fig: 2 - 12
-Demand factor table

Water pump load estimation:

For low height buildings (about 3 floors) it can be fed from the main water pump. For medium
height (10 floors, 30 m height), a pump of 7.5 kw is used.
The power is estimated from an equation:

Firefighting pump load estimation:

It depends on the height of the building and the flow rate of the liquid and the pressure of this
rate.
7.2-Basic definitions.
Demand

 Load at receiving terminal averaged over a specific period of

time.

 Load can be kW, kVA, or A.

Demand variation (load) curve.

It may be daily, weekly, monthly or annually.

Daily Demand variation (load) curve.

 Must include the time interval which may range from 15 minutes
to 24 hours.

 To calculate the average demand, area under curve is calculated.

Maximum Demand (Pmax).

It’s the greatest of all demands that occur during a specific time.
Average load demand (Pav).
Average load demand of load curve in KW equals
Where:
W: electrical energy consumption in period T hours
T: is periodic time in hours (T=24 hours for daily load curve and T=8760 hours for annual load curve) Load
factor.
Defined as “the ratio of the average demand to the maximum demand.
Indicates how well the utility’s facilities are being utilized.
From utility standpoint, optimal LF would be 10.
Is reflected in the electricity bill.

Estimated Small Appliance Loads (general Power Load):

Small appliance loads shall include those served by general purpose receptacles. In general, the dividing of
areas by function for estimating lighting loads will serve for estimating small appliance loads.
Determine the Small Appliance load density in (W/m²) or/and (VA/m²) for this space.
Consider requirements for the extent of using small appliances by the occupants of this space (for example,
Mechanical spaces in building storage area sand similar spaces in which outlets are provided but
infrequently used are usually neglected in computing loads, except for special cases).
Multiply the gross interior area of the space by the assigned Small Appliance load density to get the
estimated Small Appliance electrical load for this space.

Estimated Electric Power Loads:

Electric power loads shall include all loads other than lighting loads and those served by general purpose
receptacles and comprise the environmental system electric power requirements and the facility occupancy
equipment electric power requirements.

HVAC Equipment:

HousesPd =65 w/m2

Offices, Pd =70 w / m2
Shops, Pd =90 w / m2
Malls, Pd =80 w / m2
Colleges and Schools, Pd =100 w / m2
OR
 From 3.5 to 5.5 ton / 100 m2

Power in Kw= No. of tons x (1.6– 2.5)Kw

Escalators, Pumps, and other loads:

These loads are related to the whole building and not related to the divided spaces. So, the Space-by-Space
Method can’t estimate the required ratings for these loads, and we must use the building method for this
purpose.
The architecture engineer will determine the number and type of elevators.
To estimate the power required for the elevators.

P elev.= 15 –25 Kw

Number and size of the water pump can be determined by the mechanical engineer.
To estimate the power required for the pumps:

1-Waterpump power = 5KVA 2- Fire pump power = 15 KVA

project of villa by the way of Egyptian code