Demand factor
Fraction of maximum possible demand used by a system.
Demand factor is a term used in telecommunications, electronics, and the electrical power industry to refer to the fractional amount of some quantity being used relative to the maximum amount that could be used by the same system. It is always less than or equal to one and is time-dependent, though often implicitly averaged over time.
- field
- Telecommunications, electronics, electrical power industry
- definition
- Fractional amount of quantity used relative to maximum possible
- range
- Always less than or equal to one
- time_dependence
- Time-dependent quantity
- electrical_engineering_usage
- Time-independent, using maximum demand in given period
Lore & Background
In general usage, demand factor is defined as the instantaneous or averaged demand divided by the maximum possible demand. In electrical engineering, however, it is taken as a time-independent quantity where the numerator is the maximum load in a specified time period rather than the instantaneous demand. This peak in the load profile is divided by the full load of the device.
Reader's Guide
Demand factor is significant for determining the appropriate rating of electrical systems. The concept is closely related to load factor, which is the average load divided by the peak load in a specified time period. Understanding demand factor aids in efficient system design and capacity planning.
Did You Know?
- Demand factor is always less than or equal to one.
- In electrical engineering, demand factor uses maximum load in a given time period rather than instantaneous demand.
- Demand factor is related to load factor, which is average load divided by peak load.
- The term is used in telecommunications, electronics, and the electrical power industry.
More in Electrical Systems 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record