Difference between PLF and CUF

[Akhilesh Magal]

Hello everybody,

I am trying to understand the difference between the Capacity
Utilization Factor (CUF) and the Plant Load factor (PLF). Let us
assume that this is in context with a thermal power plant. Can
somebody help me understand this?

Thanks,
Akhilesh

[ahmad khalid]

Hi Mr. Magal

Even i used to think PLF and CUF are one and the same thing but one
of the UNFCC CDM Executive Paper cleared my doubt to satisfactory
extents.

CUF is defined as the ratio between the gross energy generation of a
power plant and the maximum gross energy generation possible in the
period under operation, i.e (period under running condition)..say 334
days

So, number of actual operating hours = 334*24=8016

Lets say gross energy generation = 58,210,590 kWh

Installed capacity of the unit = 7.5 KW

Then CUF= (58210590/7.5*1000*8016) = 0.9682 or 96.82%

Whereas, according to the Central Electricity Authority in India, PLF
is defined as the ratio between the gross energy generation of a power
plant and the maximum gross energy generation possible in the total
monitoring period under consideration (in our case, say one year).

So, total number of operating hours is = 365*24= 8760

Then
PLF

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[Anand Sivaram]

http://cdm.unfccc.int/UserManagement/FileStorage/JU6N0PR2EZAYLMSB9C8OGQ3ITX5FWV (page 3,4) says very similar
to what Ahmad has explained.  But here they consider the capacity to be 7500KW.

But many articles I think interchange these terms as if both of them are equal.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Load_management#Advantages_and_Operating_Principles

Let me explain what I understood as per the first document.  Let us consider 1000MW baseload (coal/hydro) power plant
which could have generated 8760 GWh (1000MW * 365 * 24 hours)
Suppose they switched off the plant for half the time say 4380 hours), then the total power it could have generated maximum is 4380 GWh,
Suppose they run the plant at 800MW (80% load) for the working 4380 hours then they generate 750*4380 = 3504 GWh
In this scenario CUF = 3504/4380 = 80%
whereas PLF = 3504/8760 = 40%

But somehow, I doubt the above calculations which is based on the first link.

Actually for Wind turbines, this is the way CUF is specified
Total Energy output of turbine in KWh/(8760 * name plate capacity of turbine in KW)

So, take a 1MW nameplate turbine and if it generates 2190MWh in one year, then the capacity factor would be 2190/8760 = 25%

Hope some one could explain it better.

Thanks and Regards

Anand

http://saurorja.org
Twitter: @anand_sivaram

[Varun Mittal]

Mr Ahmad,

Please elaborate on PLF also. Thanks

Regards
Varun Mittal
MBA (2010-2012)
Department Of Management Studies
Indian Institute Of Technology Roorkee
Mobile No. 8126589577
vrn...@gmail.com

Stay green by lowering your carbon footprint.....

 

[ahmad khalid]

Thanks Mr Sivaram for explaining in a better way.

 

[Anand Sivaram]

In fact, I feel there is some mistake in the calculations I gave, as the capacity utilization factor for the above case of 1000MW baseload should be 40%.
Also I feel that the first reference link, I gave has some errors also.
If some one could review my math, that would be great :)

http://saurorja.org
Twitter: @anand_sivaram

[Jkumar kumar]

On Wed, Aug 24, 2011 at 7:20 PM, Jkumar kumar <jkkeral...@gmail.com> wrote:

PLF as everybody knows it is the % loading of the thermal power plant which is calculated in terms of total generation as a % of max.possible generation.

Capacity utilisation factor is not associated with a single thermal power plant, where in it is used for assessing the utilisation of grid consumption.This is being used in state of region wise and being calculated as total generation as a % of sum of all generating stations max. possible generation capacity.

In general PLF evaluates performance of a single power plant. where us CUF evaluates performance of the state or region grid.

Correct me if i am wrong.

 

Jayakumar.R,Sustenergy foundation

On Wed, Aug 24, 2011 at 5:29 PM, Akhilesh Magal <akhile...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Varun Mittal]

Nicely explained.

[Akhilesh Magal]

Hello everybody,

Thanks! I think both Mr. Khalid and Mr. Sivaram arrive at the same
conclusion through their calculations. So to summarize my
understanding.

Plant Load Factory (PLF) is the ratio between the actual energy
generated by the plant to the MAXIMUM possible energy that can be
generated with the plant working at its rated power and for a duration
of an entire year.

Capacity Utilization Factor (CUF) is the ratio between the actual
energy generated by the plant to the MAXIMUM possible energy that can
be generated with the plant working at its rated power and for the
duration of the ON time of the plant.

Correct?

PS - Anand, you seem to disagree with the definition of CUF in the
case of wind turbines. Any further clarity on that?

Regards,
Akhilesh

On Aug 25, 12:38 pm, Varun Mittal <vrnm...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Nicely explained.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Thu, Aug 25, 2011 at 11:32 AM, Anand Sivaram <aspn...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > In fact, I feel there is some mistake in the calculations I gave, as the
> > capacity utilization factor for the above case of 1000MW baseload should be
> > 40%.
> > Also I feel that the first reference link, I gave has some errors also.
> > If some one could review my math, that would be great :)
>

> > On Thu, Aug 25, 2011 at 10:10, ahmad khalid <ahmadchem...@gmail.com>wrote:
>
> >> Thanks Mr Sivaram for explaining in a better way.
>

> vrnm...@gmail.com <vrnm...@yahoo.com>
>
> *Stay green by lowering your carbon footprint.....*

[Anand Sivaram]

Not yet, I could find these "contradictory" definitions and many people interchange these two terms also.
The question still open for anyone to provide a good answer :)

>PS - Anand, you seem to disagree with the definition of CUF in the
> case of wind turbines. Any further clarity on that?

[Vinod Sharma]

Dear All,

 

These are the basic definitions so we should go for authentic institutions or standard texts instead different opinions. We can quote our source/text of informations in our discussions.

 

Thanks,

 

Vinod