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Contents
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2 Calculation Methodology
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2.1 Step 1: Collect list of loads 2.2 Step 2: Collect electrical load parameters 2.3 Step 3: Classify the loads
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2.4 Step 4: Calculate consumed load 2.5 Step 5: Calculate operating, peak and design loads
3 Worked Example
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3.1 Step 1: Collect list of loads 3.2 Step 2: Collect electrical load parameters 3.3 Step 3: Classify the loads 3.4 Step 4: Calculate consumed load 3.5 Step 5: Calculate operating, peak and design loads
Introduction
Example of an electrical load schedule The electrical load schedule is an estimate of the instantaneous electrical loads operating in a facility, in terms of active, reactive and apparent power (measured in kW, kVAR and kVA respectively). The load schedule is usually categorised by switchboard or occasionally by subfacility / area.
Calculation Methodology
There are no standards governing load schedules and therefore this calculation is based on generally accepted industry practice. The following methodology assumes that the load schedule is being created for the first time and is also biased towards industrial plants. The basic steps for creating a load schedule are:
Step 1: Collect a list of the expected electrical loads in the facility Step 2: For each load, collect the electrical parameters, e.g. nominal / absorbed ratings, power factor, efficiency, etc
Step 3: Classify each of the loads in terms of switchboard location, load duty and load criticality Step 4: For each load, calculate the expected consumed load Step 5: For each switchboard and the overall system, calculate operating, peak and design load
Process loads - are the loads that are directly relevant to the facility. In factories and industrial plants, process loads are the motors, heaters, compressors, conveyors, etc that form the main business of the plant. Process loads can normally be found on either Mechanical Equipment Lists or Process and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&ID's). Non-process loads - are the auxiliary loads that are necessary to run the facility, e.g. lighting, HVAC, utility systems (power and water), DCS/PLC control systems, fire safety systems, etc. These loads are usually taken from a number of sources, for example HVAC engineers, instruments, telecoms and control systems engineers, safety engineers, etc. Some loads such as lighting, UPS, power generation auxiliaries, etc need to be estimated by the electrical engineer.
Rated power is the full load or nameplate rating of the load and represents the maximum continuous power output of the load. For motor loads, the rated power corresponds to the standard motor size (e.g. 11kW, 37kW, 75kW, etc). For load items that contain sub-loads (e.g. distribution boards, package equipment, etc), the rated power is typically the maximum power output of the item (i.e. with all its sub-loads in service). Absorbed power is the expected power that will be drawn by the load. Most loads will not operate at its rated capacity, but at a lower point. For example, absorbed motor loads are based on the mechanical power input to the shaft of the driven equipment at its duty point. The motor is typically sized so that the rated capacity of the motor exceeds the expected absorbed load by some conservative design margin. Where information regarding the absorbed loads is not available, then a load factor of between 0.8 and 0.9 is normally applied.
Power factor of the load is necessary to determine the reactive components of the load schedule. Normally the load power factor at full load is used, but the power factor at the duty point can also be used for increased accuracy. Where power factors are not readily available, then estimates can be used (typically 0.85 for motor loads >7.5kW, 1.0 for heater loads and 0.8 for all other loads). Efficiency accounts for the losses incurred when converting electrical energy to mechanical energy (or whatever type of energy the load outputs). Some of the electrical power drawn by the load is lost, usually in the form of heat to the ambient environment. Where information regarding efficiencies is not available, then estimates of between 0.8 and 1 can be used (typically 0.85 or 0.9 is used when efficiencies are unknown).
Loads are typically classified as either normal, essential and critical: 1) Normal loads are those that run under normal operating conditions, e.g. main process loads, normal lighting and small power, ordinary office and workshop loads, etc 2) Essential loads are those necessary under emergency conditions, when the main power supply is disconnected and the system is being supported by an emergency generator, e.g. emergency lighting, key process loads that operate during emergency conditions, fire and safety systems, etc 3) Critical are those critical for the operation of safety systems and for facilitating or assisting evacuation from the plant, and would normally be supplied from a UPS or battery system, e.g. safety-critical shutdown systems, escape lighting, etc
Where
is the consumed active load (kW) is the consumed reactive load (kVAr) is the absorbed load (kW) is the load efficiency (pu) is the load power factor (pu)
Notice that the loads have been categorised into three columns depending on their load duty (continuous, intermittent or standby). This is done in order to make it visually easier to see the load duty and more importantly, to make it easier to sum the loads according to their duty (e.g. sum of all continuous loads), which is necessary to calculate the operating, peak and design loads.
The operating load is the expected load during normal operation. The operating load is calculated as follows:
Where
is the operating load (kW or kVAr) is the sum of all continuous loads (kW or kVAr) is the sum of all intermittent loads (kW or kVAr)
Peak load The peak load is the expected maximum load during normal operation. Peak loading is typically infrequent and of short duration, occurring when standby loads are operated (e.g. for changeover of redundant machines, testing of safety equipment, etc). The peak load is calculated as the larger of either:
or
Where
is the peak load (kW or kVAr) is the sum of all continuous loads (kW or kVAr) is the sum of all intermittent loads (kW or kVAr) is the sum of all standby loads (kW or kVAr) is the largest standby load (kW or kVAr)
Design load The design load is the load to be used for the design for equipment sizing, electrical studies, etc. The design load is generically calculated as the larger of either:
or
Where
is the design load (kW or kVAr) is the operating load (kW or kVAr) is the sum of all standby loads (kW or kVAr) is the largest standby load (kW or kVAr)
The design load includes a margin for any errors in load estimation, load growth or the addition of unforeseen loads that may appear after the design phase. The load schedule is thus more conservative and robust to errors. On the other hand however, equipment is often over-sized as a result. Sometimes the design load is not calculated and the peak load is used for design purposes.
Worked Example
Step 1: Collect list of loads
Consider a small facility with the following loads identified:
2 x 100% vapour recovery compressors (process) 2 x 100% recirculation pumps (process) 1 x 100% sump pump (process) 2 x 50% firewater pumps (safety) 1 x 100% HVAC unit (HVAC) 1 x 100% AC UPS system (electrical) 1 x Normal lighting distribution board (electrical) 1 x Essential lighting distribution board (electrical)
Recirculation pump B Sump pump Firewater pump A Firewater pump B HVAC unit AC UPS System Normal lighting distribution board Essential lighting distribution board
0.83 0.86 0.81 0.83 0.88 0.88 0.88 0.88 0.85 0.9 0.85 0.9 0.8 0.8 0.9 0.9
Load Description
Abs Load
Continuous PF Eff. P (kW) Q (kVAr) 447.4 24.2 55.1 6.2 5.8 3.3 542.0
Standby P (kW) 789.5 36.0 73.9 73.9 973.3 Q (kVAr) 447.4 24.2 39.9 39.9 551.4
Vapour recovery compressor A Vapour recovery compressor B Recirculation pump A Recirculation pump B Sump pump Firewater pump A Firewater pump B HVAC unit AC UPS System Normal lighting distribution board Essential lighting distribution board
750kW 750kW 31kW 31kW 9kW 65kW 65kW 80kW 9kW 7kW 4kW
0.83 0.86 36.0 0.83 0.86 0.81 0.83 0.88 0.88 0.88 0.88 0.85 0.9 0.85 0.9 0.8 0.8 0.9 0.9 88.9 10.0 7.8 4.4 936.6
SUM TOTAL
942 1,731.5
546.0 993.4
1,825.7 1,047.9
Normally you would separate the loads by switchboard and calculate operating, peak and design loads for each switchboard and one for the overall system. However for the sake of simplicity, the loads in this example are all lumped together and only one set of operating, peak and design loads are calculated.
Operating Scenarios
It may be necessary to construct load schedules for different operating scenarios. For example, in order to size an emergency diesel generator, it would be necessary to construct a load schedule for emergency scenarios. The classification of the loads by criticality will help in constructing alternative scenarios, especially those that use alternative power sources.
Computer Software
In the past, the load schedule has typically been done manually by hand or with the help of an Excel spreadsheet. However, this type of calculation is extremely well-suited for database driven software packages (such as Smartplant Electrical), especially for very large projects. For smaller projects, it may be far easier to simply perform this calculation manually.
What Next?
The electrical load schedule is the basis for the sizing of most major electrical equipment, from generators to switchgear to transformers. Using the load schedule, major equipment sizing can be started, as well as the power system studies. A preliminary load schedule will also indicate if there will be problems with available power supply / generation, and whether alternative power sources or even process designs will need to be investigated.