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## Introduction

Figure 1. 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 sub-facility / area.

### Why do the calculation?

Preparing the load schedule is one of the earliest tasks that needs to be done as it is essentially a pre-requisite for some of the key electrical design activities (such as equipment sizing and power system studies).

### When to do the calculation?

The electrical load schedule can typically be started with a preliminary key single line diagram (or at least an idea of the main voltage levels in the system) and any preliminary details of process / building / facility loads. It is recommended that the load schedule is started as soon as practically possible.

## 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 5: For each switchboard and the overall system, calculate operating, peak and design load

### Step 1: Collect list of loads

The first step is to gather a list of all the electrical loads that will be supplied by the power system affected by the load schedule. There are generally two types of loads that need to be collected:

• 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.

### Step 2: Collect electrical load parameters

A number of electrical load parameters are necessary to construct the load schedule:

• 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).

### Step 3: Classify the loads

Once the loads have been identified, they need to be classified accordingly:

#### Voltage Level

What voltage level and which switchboard should the load be located? Large loads may need to be on MV or HV switchboards depending on the size of the load and how many voltage levels are available. Typically, loads <150kW tend to be on the LV system (400V - 690V), loads between 150kW and 10MW tend to be on an intermediate MV system (3.3kV - 6.6kV) where available and loads >10MW are usually on the HV distribution system (11kV - 33kV). Some consideration should also be made for grouping the loads on a switchboard in terms of sub-facilities, areas or sub-systems (e.g. a switchboard for the compression train sub-system or the drying area).

Loads are classified according to their duty as either continuous, intermittent and standby loads:

1) Continuous loads are those that normally operate continuously over a 24 hour period, e.g. process loads, control systems, lighting and small power distribution boards, UPS systems, etc
2) Intermittent loads that only operate a fraction of a 24 hour period, e.g. intermittent pumps and process loads, automatic doors and gates, etc
3) Standby loads are those that are on standby or rarely operate under normal conditions, e.g. standby loads, emergency systems, etc

Note that for redundant loads (e.g. 2 x 100% duty / standby motors), one is usually classified as continuous and the other classified as standby. This if purely for the purposes of the load schedule and does not reflect the actual operating conditions of the loads, i.e. both redundant loads will be equally used even though one is classified as a standby load.

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

### Step 4: Calculate consumed load

The consumed load is the quantity of electrical power that the load is expected to consume. For each load, calculate the consumed active and reactive loading, derived as follows:

${\displaystyle P_{l}={\frac {P_{abs}}{\eta }}\,}$
${\displaystyle Q_{l}=P_{l}{\sqrt {{\frac {1}{\cos ^{2}\phi }}-1}}\,}$

Where ${\displaystyle P_{l}\,}$ is the consumed active load (kW)

${\displaystyle Q_{l}\,}$ is the consumed reactive load (kVAr)
${\displaystyle P_{abs}\,}$ is the absorbed load (kW)
${\displaystyle \eta \,}$ is the load efficiency (pu)
${\displaystyle \cos \phi \,}$ 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.

### Step 5: Calculate operating, peak and design loads

Many organisations / clients have their own distinct method for calculating operating, peak and design loads, but a generic method is presented as follows:

The operating load is the expected load during normal operation. The operating load is calculated as follows:

${\displaystyle OL=\sum L_{c}+0.5\times \sum L_{i}\,}$

Where ${\displaystyle OL\,}$ is the operating load (kW or kVAr)

${\displaystyle \sum L_{c}\,}$ is the sum of all continuous loads (kW or kVAr)
${\displaystyle \sum L_{i}\,}$ is the sum of all intermittent loads (kW or kVAr)

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:

${\displaystyle PL=\sum L_{c}+0.5\times \sum L_{i}+0.1\times \sum L_{s}\,}$

or

${\displaystyle PL=\sum L_{c}+0.5\times \sum L_{i}+L_{s,max}\,}$

Where ${\displaystyle PL\,}$ is the peak load (kW or kVAr)

${\displaystyle \sum L_{c}\,}$ is the sum of all continuous loads (kW or kVAr)
${\displaystyle \sum L_{i}\,}$ is the sum of all intermittent loads (kW or kVAr)
${\displaystyle \sum L_{s}\,}$ is the sum of all standby loads (kW or kVAr)
${\displaystyle L_{s,max}\,}$ is the largest standby load (kW or kVAr)

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:

${\displaystyle DL=1.1\times OL+0.1\times \sum L_{s}\,}$

or

${\displaystyle DL=1.1\times OL+L_{s,max}\,}$

Where ${\displaystyle DL\,}$ is the design load (kW or kVAr)

${\displaystyle OL\,}$ is the operating load (kW or kVAr)
${\displaystyle \sum L_{s}\,}$ is the sum of all standby loads (kW or kVAr)
${\displaystyle L_{s,max}\,}$ 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)

### Step 2: Collect electrical load parameters

The following electrical load parameters were collected for the loads identified in Step 1:

Vapour recovery compressor A 750kW 800kW 0.87 0.95
Vapour recovery compressor B 750kW 800kW 0.87 0.95
Recirculation pump A 31kW 37kW 0.83 0.86
Recirculation pump B 31kW 37kW 0.83 0.86
Sump pump 9kW 11kW 0.81 0.83
Firewater pump A 65kW 75kW 0.88 0.88
Firewater pump B 65kW 75kW 0.88 0.88
HVAC unit 80kW 90kW 0.85 0.9
AC UPS System 9kW 12kW 0.85 0.9
Normal lighting distribution board 7kW 10kW 0.8 0.9
Essential lighting distribution board 4kW 5kW 0.8 0.9

### Step 3: Classify the loads

Suppose we have two voltage levels, 6.6kV and 415V. The loads can be classified as follows:

Vapour recovery compressor A 800kW 6.6kV Continuous Normal
Vapour recovery compressor B 800kW 6.6kV Standby Normal
Recirculation pump A 37kW 415V Continuous Normal
Recirculation pump B 37kW 415V Standby Normal
Sump pump 11kW 415V Intermittent Normal
Firewater pump A 75kW 415V Standby Essential
Firewater pump B 75kW 415V Standby Essential
HVAC unit 90kW 415V Continuous Normal
AC UPS System 12kW 415V Continuous Critical
Normal lighting distribution board 10kW 415V Continuous Normal
Essential lighting distribution board 5kW 415V Continuous Essential

### Step 4: Calculate consumed load

Calculating the consumed loads for each of the loads in this example gives:

P (kW) Q (kVAr) P (kW) Q (kVAr) P (kW) Q (kVAr)
Vapour recovery compressor A 750kW 0.87 0.95 789.5 447.4 - - - -
Vapour recovery compressor B 750kW 0.87 0.95 - - - - 789.5 447.4
Recirculation pump A 31kW 0.83 0.86 36.0 24.2 - - - -
Recirculation pump B 31kW 0.83 0.86 - - - - 36.0 24.2
Sump pump 9kW 0.81 0.83 - - 10.8 7.9 - -
Firewater pump A 65kW 0.88 0.88 - - - - 73.9 39.9
Firewater pump B 65kW 0.88 0.88 - - - - 73.9 39.9
HVAC unit 80kW 0.85 0.9 88.9 55.1 - - - -
AC UPS System 9kW 0.85 0.9 10.0 6.2 - - - -
Normal lighting distribution board 7kW 0.8 0.9 7.8 5.8 - - - -
Essential lighting distribution board 4kW 0.8 0.9 4.4 3.3 - - - -
SUM TOTAL 936.6 542.0 10.8 7.9 973.3 551.4

### Step 5: Calculate operating, peak and design loads

The operating, peak and design loads are calculated as follows:

P (kW) Q (kW)
Sum of continuous loads 936.6 542.0
50% x Sum of intermittent loads 5.4 4.0
10% x Sum of standby loads 97.3 55.1

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.