CHAPTER 2

THE VARIABLE
LOAD
PROBLEM
Prepared by: Kerstein Kylle P. Despi

Power Plant
The POWER PLANT is an industrial facility for
the generation of electric power.

The POWER PLANT can be thought as a

factory for the manufacture of useful energy
from fuels or hydraulic energy as raw material.

Power Generation
The POWER PLANT product is not completed
until the instant that it is needed, and then only
in quantities exactly equal to the instantaneous
demand.

HOW DOES POWER GENERATED GET TO

US?

Structure of Power
System

Structure of Power
System

POWERPLANT/ GENERATING STATION

Electric power is produced by generating units, housed in
power plants, which convert primary energy into electric
energy. Primary energy comes from a number of sources,
such as fossil fuel and nuclear, hydro, wind, and solar
power. The process used to convert this energy into
electric energy depends on the design of the generating
unit, which is partly dictated by the source of primary
energy.
Ex:
1. Bangui Wind Farms (24.75 MW) Ilocos
2. Palinpinon Geothermal Powerplant (192.5 MW)
Negros Oriental
3. Sucat Thermal Powerplant (850 MW) Muntinlupa
4. KEPCO-SPC Power Plant (200 MW) - Cebu

Structure of Power
System

TRANSMISSION
SYSTEM:
The transmission
system carries
electric power over
long distances
from the
generating units to
the distribution
system. The
transmission
network is
composed of
power lines and
The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines is in charge of
stations/substati
operating, maintaining, and developing the country's state-owned
ons.
power grid, an interconnected system that transmits gigawatts of
power at thousands of volts from where it is made to where it is
needed.

Structure of Power
System

POWER LINES/TRANSMISSION LINES

Transformers at the generating plant increase the voltage up to a
transmission voltage (69 kV, 115 kV, 230 kV, 500 kV, 765 kV), so it
can travel long distances over high-voltage transmission lines.
NGCP operate these lines, which carry the electric energy from the
generating stations to the places where electricity is used.

Structure of Power
System

LOCAL DISTRIBUTION SUBSTATION/ TRANSMISSION SUBSTATION

Transformers reduce the electric energy down to a lower voltage (69
kV, 34 kV) making it suitable for high-volume delivery over short
distances.
Transformers at transmission substations convert transmission
voltages down to lower levels to connect to the subtransmission
network or directly to the distribution network

Structure of Power
System

DISTRIBUTION
Distribution networks carry power the last few
miles from transmission or subtransmission to
consumers. Power is carried in distribution
networks through wires either on poles or, in
many urban areas, underground. Distribution
networks are distinguished from transmission
networks by their voltage level and topology.
Lower voltages are used in distribution
networks, as lower voltages require less
clearance. Typically lines up to 35 kV are
considered part of the distribution network.
The feeders connect the substation to the area
where power is to be finally distributed to the
consumers.
Distribution Utilities:
1. MERALCO Metro Manila area
2. MECO Lapu-Lapu City

Variable Load
Curves

Load Curve shows the demanded load plotted against the

time sequence.

Variable Load
Curves

The industrial processes and domestic uses impose highly

variable demands upon the capacity of the plant

Variable Load
Curves
IMPORTANCE.
(i) Daily load curves show the variations of load at different
times of day
(ii) Gives the number of units generated in the day
(iii) Presents maximum demand on the station
(iv) Gives average load on the station
(v) Helps in selecting the size and number of generating units
(vi) Helps in preparing operation schedule

Load Duration Curve

Load Duration Curve shows the duration at which a certain

amount of load is demanded.

Important
Terms/Factors

LOAD FACTOR is ratio of average load to the maximum

demand during a given period

Important
Terms/Factors

DEMAND FACTOR is ratio of maximum demand on the

power station to its connected load

Important
Terms/Factors

DIVERSITY FACTOR is ratio of individual maximum

demands to the maximum demand on the power station

Important
Terms/Factors
PLANT CAPACITY FACTOR is ratio of actual energy
produced to the maximum possible energy that could have been
produced during a given period
PLANT USE FACTOR is ratio of kWh generated to the
product of the plant capacity and the number of hours for which
the plant was in operation