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Load

Factor

LONTOK, VOI KENNETH L. EE-5103


Load Factor
• In electrical engineering; It is defined as the average
load divided by the peak load in a specified time
period.
• It is a measure of the utilization rate, or efficiency of
electrical energy usage(in essence, means efficiency)
• It is the ratio of actual kilowatt-hours used in a given
period, divided by the total possible kilowatt -hours
that could have been used in the same period, at the
peak kW level established by the customer during the
billing period.
High & Low Load Factor

• A high load factor is “a good thing,”


• A low load factor is a “bad thing.”

A low load factor means that you are using electricity inefficiently relative to what you
could be if you were controlling your peak demand
LOAD FACTOR CALCULATION

• The information required is:


– Actual kilowatt-hours used during the billing
period, in kWh:
– The Peak kilowatt demand, in kW:
– The number of days in the billing period:
The load factor corresponds to the ratios
between your actual energy consumption
(kWh) and the maximum power recorded
(demand) for that period of time

kWh
—————————— = LF
kW x Days x 24
Daily Peak Load for a Typical Month
Example:
peak demand = 15 kW
use = 3000 kWh
number of days in billing cycle = 30 d
Hence:

Load Factor = 3000 kWh


× 100%
(15 kW × 30 d × 24 hours per day)
= 27.78%
Using Load Factor to Determine
Demand Limit

FIRST: Take the actual kWh’s used by a home in a


given month
SECOND : And divide by 720 (total hours in an
average 30-day month):
3000 kWh / 720 hours
= 4.16 (demand limit if at 100% load factor)

• If a 60% load factor is desired, take the 4.16


(100% load factor) and divide by .60.

4.16 divided by .60 = ~7kW


Recommended Maximum Demand
Limits (Typical Residential Application)
Highest Monthly Demand
Hours/Month Load Factor Desired
Usage Limit

8000 ÷ by 720 ÷ by 60% = 18.5

7000 ÷ by 720 ÷ by 60% = 16

6000 ÷ by 720 ÷ by 60% = 14

5000 ÷ by 720 ÷ by 60% = 11.5

5000 ÷ by 720 ÷ by 80% = 8.5

4000 ÷ by 720 ÷ by 60% = 9.5

4000 ÷ by 720 ÷ by 80% = 7

3000 ÷ by 720 ÷ by 60% = 7

2000 ÷ by 720 ÷ by 60% = 4.5

Note: The demand limit may be higher or lower due to the individual lifestyle or to extreme
variations in the weather.
If the kW peak is known and the kWh is
known, load factor can be found by
multiplying the kW by total hours, and
dividing the actual kWh’s into that number.
For example:
15kW x 720 hours
= Total kWh (if at 100% load factor)
3000 kWh / 10,800 Total kWh
= 27.78% load factor at 15kW
IMPROVING LOAD FACTOR
By analyzing your load profile and your needs,
you may be able to improve your load factor
by doing the following:
A . Demand reduction
– Reduce demand by distributing your loads over different time
periods.

B . Increase production
– Keeping the demand stable and increasing your consumption
is often a cost-effective way to increase production while
maximizing the use of your power.

*In both cases, the load factor will improve and therefore reduce your average unit
cost per kWh.

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