Load profile

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In electrical engineering, a load profile is a graph of the variation in the electrical load versus time. A load profile will vary according to customer type (typical examples include residential, commercial and industrial), temperature and holiday seasons.

1 Power generation
2 Electricity distribution
3 Calculating a load profile
4 See also
5 External link

[edit] Power generation

In the electricity generation sector, a load curve is a chart showing the amount of electricity customers use over a period of time. Generation companies use this information to plan how much power they will need to generate at any given time. A load duration curve is similar to a load curve. The information is the same but is presented in a different form. These curves are useful in the selection of generator units for supplying electricity.

[edit] Electricity distribution

In the electricity distribution business, the load profile of electricity usage is important to the efficiency and reliability of power transmission. The power transformer is a critical aspect of power distribution and sizing and modelling of transformers depends on the load profile. A transformer typically has a cyclic rating allowing for the variation in the load profile. This cyclic rating allows the transformer to be overloaded at peak times so long as there is a sufficient cooling down period at the lower point in the load profile.

[edit] Calculating a load profile

Load profiles can be determined by direct metering but on smaller devices such as distribution network transformers this is not routinely done. Instead a load profile can be inferred from customer billing data. Calculations take into account the known amount of power used and the numbers of each customer type attached.