Question

Pump storage plants are used to improve :
• [A.] Power factor
• [B.] Diversity factor
• [C.] Capacity factor of plant
• [D.] Load factor of power system
• [E.] Voltage Quality Choose the correct answer from the options given below :

• A. A and B only
• B. A, B and E only
• C. B and E only
• D. C and D only

Hint:

Pump storage plants: \[ \text{Store Energy During Off-Peak Hours} \] and \[ \text{Supply Energy During Peak Hours} \] They improve: \[ \text{Load Factor and Capacity Factor} \]

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Concept: A pumped storage plant stores energy by pumping water to an upper reservoir during off-peak hours and generating electricity during peak demand. These plants help in:
• peak load management,
• improving system utilization,
• improving plant operating efficiency. They mainly improve: \[ \text{Capacity Factor} \] and \[ \text{Load Factor} \]

Step 1: Understanding Capacity Factor improvement. Capacity factor is: \[ \frac{\text{Actual Energy Generated}}{\text{Maximum Possible Energy}} \] Pump storage plants:
• allow better utilization of base load plants,
• reduce idle operation,
• improve generation scheduling. Hence: \[ C \] is correct.

Step 2: Understanding Load Factor improvement. Load factor is: \[ \frac{\text{Average Load}}{\text{Maximum Demand}} \] Pumped storage plants:
• supply power during peak hours,
• absorb excess power during off-peak hours,
• flatten load curve. Thus: \[ D \] is also correct.

Step 3: Checking Power Factor improvement. Pump storage plants are not primarily used for: \[ \text{power factor correction} \] Hence: \[ A \] is incorrect.

Step 4: Checking Diversity Factor and Voltage Quality. These plants are not specifically designed for:
• diversity factor improvement,
• voltage quality improvement. Therefore: \[ B \text{ and } E \] are incorrect.

Step 5: Selecting correct statements. Correct statements are: \[ C \text{ and } D \]

Step 6: Selecting the correct option. Hence correct answer is: \[ \boxed{(4)} \]