Correct Answer - Option 3 : Diversity factor
Diversity factor: The ratio of the sum of individual maximum demands to the maximum demand on the power station is known as a diversity factor.
\(Diversity\;factor = \frac{{Sum\;of\;individual\;maximum\;demands}}{{Maximum\;demand\;on\;power\;station}}\)
- A power station supplies load to various types of consumers whose maximum demands generally do not occur at the same time.
- Therefore, the maximum demand on the power station is always less than the sum of the individual maximum demands of the consumer.
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Hence diversity factor is always greater than 1.
- The knowledge of the diversity factor is vital in determining the capacity of the plant equipment.
- The greater the diversity factor, the lesser is the cost of generation of power.
- Because greater diversity factor means lesser maximum demand.
- Now, lower maximum demand means a lower capacity of the plant which reduces the cost of the plant.
