For this week’s newsletter, I have invited Schneider Electric’s Paul Pryor to address an issue of the times – meeting pressures to invest in energy efficiency improvements and carbon footprint reduction, when there is increasingly less of a pot from which to draw the necessary capital to fund it. How do you spend that diminishing pot as wisely as possible? But before we give Paul his soapbox, I want to draw your attention to a great competition currently open to young people in the 14-24 age group.
Now in its fourth year, The Independent-Bosch Technology Horizons Award sets out to inspire youngsters to think about the problems facing mankind and how technology might alleviate them. It is essentially a short essay competition and this year’s subject: - ‘How can technology and engineering provide innovative solutions to today’s global challenges?’ – is certain to spark some original and interesting ideas. And there’s still time to take part, as the deadline for submissions is a little under a month away on March 20 2009.
Run by Bosch, The Independent newspaper and the Royal Academy of Engineering, the competition has two age categories; 14-18 year-olds and 19-24 year olds. The winner of the 14-18 year category will receive £700, the second place finalist will receive £350, and five runners up will receive £150 each. In the 19-24 year category the winner will receive £1,000, the second place finalist will receive £500, and five runners up will receive £250 each. However, every entrant will be recognised for his or her contribution, and will receive a certificate from the organisers for playing their part.
An awards ceremony is planned for July 1 2009 at the London headquarters of the Royal Academy of Engineering, and the great and the good from the world of engineering and technology will be there. So, if you have young members of your family in this age group, persuade them to get scribbling. Indeed, if you are lucky enough to be in your early twenties yourself, why not give it a try? Full terms and conditions, plus advice on how to structure a winning essay, along with a film about the competition, can be found here.
But back to the nitty-gritty, as Paul Pryor offers his advice to those charged with the responsibility of improving the efficiency of their manufacturing operations at a time when money and credit are becoming scarcer than ever.....
Organisations want to take action to reduce their energy consumption and are seeking greater efficiencies by installing new equipment such as variable speed drives and increasing levels of automation. Meeting these demands will involve installing products that offer the highest level of reliability and require less installation time.
In the current economic climate, some engineers are concerned that work may be restricted as businesses tighten their belts and stop spending capital on upgrades and new equipment. However, the downturn can actually open doors to new business as long as the vendors adapt their offering and understand how to sell product during an economic crisis.
There has always been much debate about whether businesses actually want to reduce their carbon footprint or if it is a burden forced upon them by government legislation. Findings from a recent survey suggest, however, that reducing energy consumption is fast becoming a top priority. Whether this is due to an increase in environmental awareness and corporate social responsibility, or as a reaction to high energy prices, is arguable, but a concerted energy efficiency campaign can reap potential profits for both vendor and customer.
By offering companies the means to reducing their energy usage, automation vendors can become a source of information regarding energy issues – a source that could prove of value to businesses if energy bills can be reduced and emissions targets met.
One of the most dramatic savings can be made by controlling motors with variable speed drives (VSDs). And just to remind readers of the benefits of VSDs - reducing the speed of a motor by just 20 per cent slashes its energy usage by up to 50 per cent, meaning the initial investment can often be very quickly recouped in energy savings alone.
For those who may be unfamiliar with the technology, VSDs are an alternative to traditional motor control methods. They are particularly effective in those applications where motor torque and speed can be varied to match the instantaneous process demand or machine output. The application uses only the energy it needs, reducing waste at a stroke.
Some VSDs take this principle one stage further. By closely monitoring the current and the voltage in the motor, an energy optimisation function, which regulates the actual flux in the motor, can achieve up to ten per cent additional savings, depending upon the application.
A thing to watch out for if your automation project involves a number of VSDs and associated control equipment, is compatibility. Select products that are designed to work together – it will greatly simplify the installation and avoid problems at the commissioning stage. Vendors such as my own company offer a range of compatible VSDs and automation systems with all the necessary support to help customers build and maintain their installations.
Another consideration is flexibility. Installing a VSD, say, within a centrally located cabinet/panel often means running long cables to the motor it is controlling. On the other hand, VSDs housed in their own high IP rated enclosure (such as IP54, for example) can be located away from the central cabinet and adjacent to the motor. This flexibility facilitates easier installation and, thanks to the inbuilt local control option, wiring is reduced, saving installation time, money and complexity.
So, it’s all about understanding how new equipment can ultimately reduce an organisation’s overheads. The VSD is just one among many examples of modern automation equipment that can help reduce energy use and improve workflow – important things to aim for in these troubled times.
Paul Pryor
For further information about VSDs or to find out about Schneider Electric’s range of energy saving products call 0870 608 8 608 or visit www.schneider-electric.co.uk