1. What Is Electrical Demand?

Electrical demand refers to the maximum amount of electrical power required by a system or facility over a specific period. It represents the peak load adjusted by the demand factor to account for diversity and non-simultaneous usage patterns.

2. How Does The Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the electrical demand formula:

Where:

• \( Demand \) — Electrical demand in kilowatts (kW)
• \( Peak Load \) — Maximum power requirement in kilowatts (kW)
• \( Demand Factor \) — Ratio of maximum demand to total connected load (0 to 1)

Explanation: The demand factor accounts for the fact that not all connected loads operate simultaneously at their maximum capacity, providing a more realistic estimate of actual power requirements.

3. Importance Of Demand Calculation

Details: Accurate demand calculation is crucial for proper electrical system design, equipment sizing, utility billing, energy management, and ensuring reliable power distribution without overloading the system.

4. Using The Calculator

Tips: Enter peak load in kilowatts (kW) and demand factor as a decimal between 0 and 1. Both values must be positive, with demand factor not exceeding 1.0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What Is The Difference Between Peak Load And Demand?
A: Peak load is the maximum instantaneous power requirement, while demand is the peak load adjusted by the demand factor to reflect realistic usage patterns.

Q2: How Is Demand Factor Determined?
A: Demand factor is typically determined through load analysis, historical data, industry standards, or empirical studies of similar facilities and their usage patterns.

Q3: What Are Typical Demand Factor Values?
A: Demand factors vary by application but typically range from 0.5 to 0.9 for commercial buildings and 0.3 to 0.7 for residential applications, depending on the diversity of loads.

Q4: Why Is Demand Calculation Important For Utility Billing?
A: Many utilities charge commercial and industrial customers based on both energy consumption (kWh) and peak demand (kW) to recover costs associated with maintaining capacity for maximum load requirements.

Q5: How Does Demand Factor Relate To Diversity Factor?
A: While related, demand factor refers to individual loads or systems, while diversity factor applies to groups of loads and represents the ratio of the sum of individual maximum demands to the coincident maximum demand.