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Load curves show electricity usage over time, helping predict power trends and determine the number and type of generators needed. Daily, monthly, and yearly curves are used, and breakdowns by technology or population segment can increase accuracy. Different power plants are connected based on demand, with the most efficient generators used during peak demand. Engineers use formulas to calculate load curves.
A load curve is a graph used by engineers and power producers to show how much electricity customers use over a specific period of time. When looking at the graph, time is usually placed on the horizontal axis and load is placed on the vertical axis. This data can be used to predict power trends, which allows an area to build and connect generators with enough power for periods of peak demand. The types of power generators vary according to the resources in a geographic area. Load curves can be calculated in different ways depending on the needs of the electricity providers.
Daily, monthly, and yearly load curves are used by power plants to determine how many generators are needed. Daily Load Curves examine a 24-hour period to find half-hourly or hourly load requirements. A monthly load curve records the changes in load during a period of one month against the number of days recorded, and an annual load curve records the changes in power requirements during a year based on the monthly load changes. The highest point on a load curve is the maximum demand at any given time. The area under a curve is the amount of units generated during that time period.
It is also possible to calculate a load curve based on the types of power used in a system. This type of graph breaks down the energy distribution based on the electricity demand technology used. Graphs that look at each type of electrical technology are much more data and manpower intensive than ones that don’t break things down into such small segments, but they can be useful because of the greater accuracy. The load curves calculated with this method can also look at the daily, annual and monthly supplies for each type of technology. Sometimes curves are prepared that break down the different segments of the population that use energy, such as commercial, residential, industrial, hospital, street lighting and entertainment.
Different power plants can be connected in different ways throughout the year to meet the energy demand in an area. Types of power generators include nuclear, steam, hydroelectric, and gas turbines. The most efficient power generators are used during periods of greatest peak power demand, which is based on information gleaned from the load curve. Engineers use complicated formulas to calculate load curves, which in turn determine which power method is best at any given time.
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