Load Flow Assessment
Load flow study, is a numerical analysis of the flow of electric power in an interconnected system. Load flow studies are important for planning future expansion of power systems as well as in determining the best operation of existing systems. The principal information obtained from the Load flow study is the magnitude and phase angle of the voltage at each bus, and the real and reactive power flowing in each line.A load flow study is especially valuable for a system with multiple load centers, such as a complex load. The Load flow study is an analysis of the system’s capability to adequately supply the connected load. Performing a load flow study on an existing system provides insight and recommendations as to the system operation and optimization of control settings to obtain maximum capacity while minimizing the operating costs. The most important information obtained from the load flow analysis is the voltage profile of the system. If voltage varies greatly over the system, large reactive flows will result. This, in turn, will lead to increased real power losses and, in extreme cases, an increased likelihood of voltage collapse.
When a particular bus has an unacceptably low voltage, the usual practice is to install capacitor banks in order to provide reactive compensation to the load. Load flow studies are used to determine how much reactive compensation should be applied at a bus, to bring its voltage up to an appropriate level. If new lines (or additional transformers) are to be installed, to reinforce the system, a power flow study will show how it will relieve overloads on adjacent lines. An inefficient or unbalanced load can also cause unpredictable behavior in your localized power grid, increasing the risk of equipment damage and unplanned outages.