If the peak load for a power plant equals the plant capacity, then the ratio of capacity factor to load factor will be

Concept:

Load factor (Lf):
The ratio of average load to the maximum demand during a given period is known as the load factor.

\(L_f = \frac{{{AL}}}{MD}\)

Where,

AL is average load and MD is maximum demand.

• The load factor may be the daily load factor, monthly load factor, or annual load factor if the time period considered is a day or month, or year.
• The load factor is always less than 1 because the average load
• is smaller than the maximum demand.
• The load factor plays a key role in determining the overall cost per unit generated.
• The higher the load factor of the power station, the lesser will be the cost per unit generated.
   

Plant capacity factor (Pcf):
It is the ratio of actual energy produced to the maximum possible energy that could have been produced during a given period.

\(P_{cf} = \frac{{{AL}}}{PC}\)

Where PC is the plant capacity.

Conclusion:

If plant capacity (PC) and maximum demand (MD) are equal,

PC = MD = X

From the above concept,

Load factor will be,

\(L_f = \frac{{{AL}}}{X}\) ... (1)

Plant capacity will be,

\(P_{cf} = \frac{{{AL}}}{X}\) .... (2)

From equation (1) and (2),

Lf = Pcf

Hence, when maximum demand is equal to the plant capacity then the Load factor and capacity factor are equal.