What is the effect of load diversity in electrical systems?

Load diversity refers to the variation in demand from different loads over time in an electrical system. When diverse loads are connected to the system, their peak demands typically do not occur simultaneously. As a result, the total demand on the electrical system at any given time is often less than the sum of the individual peak demands of all the connected loads.

This phenomenon occurs because different types of loads (such as residential, commercial, and industrial) have different usage patterns. For example, commercial buildings might have peaks during business hours, while residential buildings may have higher demand in the evening. When these loads are considered collectively, the likelihood of all loads peaking at the same moment is reduced, leading to a lower overall demand.

Thus, when load diversity is taken into account, it effectively decreases the total demand on the system compared to summing up the maximum individual demands of each load. This is significant in electrical system design and management, as it allows for more efficient planning and operation, minimizing the need for excessive capacity to meet peak demands that may only occur infrequently.