In Electrical system study load flow study has a vital role; it is the base for all other studies viz. cable ampacity study, voltage drop calculations, power factor correction study etc. Load flow study gives the steady state power parameters at various closed paths of the power system. A load flow calculation is the foundation for all power system studies, which determines the state of the power system for a given load and generation distribution. Load flow studies were carried out in order to define the system capacity in terms of load withstand capacity, system power factor, voltage profile, etc.

Load flow study using ETAP begins with the system modeling with the available system information which includes information about generators, transformers, cables, loads, and other network elements. Load flow study in ETAP employs numerical techniques such as Newton-Raphson method, Gauss-Seidal method or the fast decoupled method to solve the system of non-linear equations iteratively. Once the load flow study or load flow analysis is completed it provides the essential results such as bus voltages, line currents, active, reactive, apparent power flows, Power factor and other system parameters.

By analysing the load flow study results you can suitably select various system components (viz.cables, transformers, circuit breakers etc.) By simulation of various operating conditions the overloaded components may be identified and replaced for the reliable operation of the system.