Load Dispatching
- As the electric systems expand and are interconnected by grid, a centralized control system or load dispatching become essential.
- Formerly an individual power house was used to supply its own local load. When generating stations are interconnected, systems operating under different authorities are support supply the total demand of load.
- Hence, it becomes necessary to have common mode of operation for all power stations so as to effect economy and reliability of supply. The functions of load dispatcher or power controller in such a system is related to the following (in the interconnected system) :
- Loading of generating stations.
- Loading of units within generating stations.
- Control of system voltage and reactive power flow.
- Control of system frequency and active power flow.
- Loading of various interconnectors and transfer of power from one system to another.
- Maintaining continuity of service.
- When number of systems are interconnected it is necessary to have chief system operation and a number of area system operators.
- The area operators perform all the above functions except (e) i.e. loading of various Interconnectors and transfer of power from one system to another, within their own area of operation besides all those limited to local operations not affecting the system operation.
- Function at (e) and other functions affecting the operation of the whole of the Inter-connected system are performed by the chief system operator. The area operators are directly responsible to the chief system operator.