February 6th, 2012 by egenergy
Industrial energy management is a task required for efficient industrial engineering and facilities management across many fields. A significant portion of this job is that of demand control. Depending on the maximum power demand placed by a facility on their utility provider, there is an associated fee. This demand is measured as the maximum power consumed within a 15 minute period for the regular billing term. As such, improper load scheduling could result in demand charges exceeding 50% of the total electrical bill.
With a suitable demand controller, such as the DemandMiser Maximum Demand Controller from EG Energy Controls, this fee can easily be reduced. As well, by reducing demand, total energy consumption can be dropped by up to 20%, depending on the situation. The DemandMiser is applied to an industrial electrical framework by controlling loads such as compressors, fan motors (through a variable speed drive), heaters, air conditioners, lighting or other non-essential loads. The DemandMiser senses through its data collection and interpretation system when a demand peak is occurring; it will then start shutting off various loads so that the energy demand is reduced. This simple safeguard can save money across any industry.
The system offers great communication and reporting features. Reports can be compared across facilities, filtered by size and energy, or any combination required. This information can be used for accurate incentive programs for a chain, the head office would be able to reward a specific branch for their energy conservation efforts. In addition, the system can be programmed to send alerts to designated personnel, informing them of the specific loads shed and demand characteristics. The installation is full of options, the system can be integrated with digital meters and its load shedding outputs can be connected to existing building management systems with dry contacts or relays.
The DemandMiser is appropriate for energy savings in any facility that is charged for peak demand usage. Whether a commercial application or industrial facility, demand control has a significant influence on profitability and efficiency. Accountants for these facilities can easily see the benefits when the reports come in from the DemandMiser and the energy bills arrive each month cheaper.
The benefits extend beyond the facility where the DemandMiser is installed. The utilities providing the power for this facility are under less strain, and can thus supply for the demand across their whole jurisdiction without risk of brownouts, or having to turn on expensive secondary power plants. By smoothing demand, power is spread more evenly and as much as is necessary at a given time. Keeping the industry running smoothly, safely and efficient, that is the way of the DemandMiser.
January 29th, 2012 by egenergy
Sporting facilities in the large scale can consume significant amounts of energy through a variety of loads. Large arenas and stadiums have the infrastructure to support a sporting event, training facilities, dressing rooms, heating, cooling, air conditioning and hospitality services. There is thus many places to conserve energy or use it more efficiently.
For a facility as large as a traditional hockey arena or football stadium, the first step to a proper energy conservation is energy monitoring. One cannot manage and streamline one one cannot measure. The Energy Surveillance System (ESS) from EG Energy Controls offers such a solution. This system provides hardware and software tracking for a variety of energy and resource loads. Each sub-module can handle up to 17 sub-loads of various kinds; electricity, gas and oil and water. One could measure the power used by lighting across the arena, the water consumption in locker rooms or gas used to cook in the food court. It is very customizable, and through the knowledge it presents, can offer an immediate 7% energy conservation in arenas and stadiums. This data can be fed automatically to report-making and database software, allowing for easy reviewal and discussion of energy data. Once accurate data is obtained, further energy conservation solutions can be applied.
Stadiums and arenas frequently use high intensity discharge lamps; these lamps provide a large amount of light both indoors and outdoors. There is a system that can reduce energy used by these lamps by up to 25%. This is the Voltmiser System from EG Energy Controls. It uses a patented style of autotransformer dimming to reduce the voltage to the lamp, while only minimally reducing the light released. Installation is simple; it does not have to be attached to every ballast, but rather is placed in the circuit at a distribution box. The Voltmiser is also the only HID dimming system that will not negate ballast and lamp warranties, it also works with High and low pressure sodium bulbs, metal halide and ceramic pulse-start lamps.
In addition to lighting, a proper HVAC system is required in these types of facilities. This opens a new avenue for energy conservation is arenas and stadiums. A variable speed drive, such as the one offered by EG Energy Controls can help with energy conservation in arenas and stadiums. The system operates by reducing the speed of the motor. Power consumed is reduced by almost twice the percentage. These can be used with HVAC supply fan motors or liquid pump motors, both of which are used significantly in sporting facility infrastructure.
Operators of arenas and stadium seeking energy conservation solutions should look at a whole-building approach. With all the bases covered, it is quite simple to streamline one’s infrastructure and reduce energy consumption overall.
January 22nd, 2012 by egenergy
In facilities and industries that use lots of energy and power through various machinery, there is a significant amount of data that can be collected. An effective energy monitoring system will be able to tally information on energy usage, power faults, power quality and other elements. Since budgets and finances become tighter, companies are seeking new ways to increase profits and reduce costs. Knowledge of energy usage, quantified and analyzed is a great benefit. One cannot manage what one cannot measure; an axiom at the heart of energy monitoring. The ability to streamline energy use is quite practical for industrial engineers and management personnel.
An energy monitoring system should be able to interface with any machinery or resource required, and transfer this data to the information infrastructure present in the facility or company. The Energy Surveillance System from EG Energy Controls does just that. The system can monitor a variety of sub-loads, from electricity to water to gas and oil. Each module in the Energy Surveillance System can communicate with up to 17 sub-loads. A sub-load could be a refrigerator, the lighting on a floor, water consumption in the cafeteria, energy usage by compressors or even oil used for heating a wing. This system is quite customizable and can be adapted for any arrangement of energy and resource usage. This energy monitoring system can also interface through industrial ethernet to provide data in the form of customized reports and input data to SQL server databases.
In case of any out of ordinary circumstances, such as a crucial system failing, the Energy Surveillance System can automatically notify proper personnel. Problems that could normally halt production during trouble shooting, damage valuable equipment, or spoil perishable goods can be identified and rectified before there are any issues. This level of attention to energy infrastructure with an effective energy management system interfaced with the information systems or the company is very valuable.
An energy management system is simply effective use of technology. Without one, facilities are operating somewhat blindly. Energy and resource costs can be verified with bills, and included in the daily tallying of costs. This can be done not just with estimations, but exact figures and reports submitted instantaneously at the end of every day. By connecting the Energy Surveillance System to the information technology infrastructure, central offices and management can review operation at any number of facilities. A new technology implemented across a variety of factories can be monitored across the country.
EG Energy Controls offers an effective and customizable solution for energy monitoring needs. With its applications for energy and resource optimization, businesses, industries and various facilities can finally take control of energy leaks and money leaks. The system will pay for itself in optimization and knowledge.
January 16th, 2012 by egenergy
Carbon Tax in Australia and Energy Efficiency
In Australia, a carbon tax has been implemented across the society as of October 2011. This emissions trading scheme is meant to reduce global warming. Australia’s carbon production, in the amount of 500 000 000 tonnes of pollution a year has led the government to implement measures to stifle these smokestacks. Since there are many negative externalities associated with pollution, a cost will be applied to those who produce this form of pollution. This must be included in budgets for Australian industries and businesses. The carbon tax in Australia will change how business is done, since the initial price of pollution under the tax scheme is $23 per tonne of pollution, people must act.
To counter this rising cost of doing business, industries must dramatically reduce the energy they consume. There are many measures of energy efficiency and ways to implement them. Broadly, some of these include light dimming, energy management and load shedding.
Light dimming can be an easy way to reduce energy consumption. For HID bulbs, such as metal halide, high and low pressure sodium and pulse start lamps, a regulating system can be applied to the voltage. By lessening the voltage, there are correspondings reductions in power consumption. The VoltMiser HID light dimming system from EG Energy Controls. This system is the only light dimming system that is approved to operate within required limits for warranties on ballasts and bulbs. As well, voltage can be reduced further, causing increasing savings. Supermarkets, warehouses, automobile dealerships and sports arenas can all benefit from this technology.
Light dimming can also be combined as part of an effective load shedding schedule to counteract the carbon tax in Australia. Load shedding, as demonstrated by the DemandMiser system from EG Energy Controls. A large portion of industrial energy costs comes from peak energy usage, defined as the largest amount of energy used across a 15 minute period. The DemandMiser works on customized algorithms to shed loads that are not required for facility operation. This can include dimming lights across the facility, air conditioning in certain wings of the building or whatever the operator specifies.
An effective energy management system is key in successful navigation of the Australian carbon tax’s cost structure. A comprehensive energy management setup such as the Energy Surveillance System from EG Energy Controls allows for managers to finally be able to quantify and manage energy and other resources. This system operates by monitoring sub-loads through its monitoring modules. Sub-loads include electricity consumption for a given device, or set of devices, gas and oil consumption, as well as water consumption. Wasteful and expensive elements of the facility can be quickly identified and eliminated. Having this sort of knowledge into the energy and resource use will allow for immediately tailoring and streamlining without affecting facility operation.
The carbon tax in Australia was designed for businesses and industries to focus their attentions on cost-reduction strategies such as the ones outlined above. By putting a monetary price on pollution, rather than the negative externalities that are burdened by all, businesses must budget for the energy consumption in new ways, approaching it with more knowledge and control. EG Energy systems can help with these tasks.
January 8th, 2012 by egenergy
HID lamps are used in a variety of buildings and situations. The lamps themselves work on similar principles as metal arc welders, the light is produced by an electric arc contained within the lamp. The HID lamps are significantly more efficient at producing visible light for a given amount of electrical power than fluorescent or incandescent bulbs. HID lamps are used, when high levels of light intensity and energy efficiency are required.
The characteristics of HID lamps make them very useful. In the athletic world, gymnasiums and outdoor arenas and fields use these lamps. They can illuminate a pitch in the middle of the night to be as bright as day. In the realms of automobiles, HID lamps are used across parking lots, highways and automobile dealerships. These lights remain on all night to provide visibility and awareness. On the sales floor, car dealerships use HID lighting to illuminate their wares. The cars themselves must shine under the lights. Warehouses and big-box stores with open architecture also use these lamps; however this represents a significant portion of energy expenditures. Finding a way to reduce this power load without adversely affecting lighting would be a great asset. As there are many applications of high intensity discharge lighting, each organization or facility can reduce their expenditures with a few tweaks to the lamps.
There are turn-key systems designed for HID lighting control. One such system is the VoltMiser HID Lighting Controller from EG Energy Controls. EG Energy Controls is a veteran of the Energy Management industry, with an entire suite of options for effective energy conservation, management and control. This HID lighting controller can be interfaced with a variety of lamps: Metal Halide, Ceramic Metal Halide, Pulse-Start and High/Low Pressure Sodium. The system uses an auto-transformer to adjust the voltage incoming to the HID lighting ballast. By reducing the voltage, electrical power consumed can be slashed by up to 25%. In addition to its power-saving benefits, the VoltMiser HID lighting controller can be equipped with a photocell to control dimming automatically, this is especially beneficial for any facility that also uses skylighting or natural daylighting. EG Energy’s HID Lighting Controller, the VoltMiser is also the only HID Lighting controller than can be set so it does not interfere with lamp and ballast warranties, allowing for significant energy savings daily, without adversely affecting infrastructure.
January 2nd, 2012 by egenergy
A variable speed drive controls the speed of rotational motion by adjusting the power factor of AC power. This control of rotational speed directly influences the physical characteristics of the spinning motion. Torque is related to the square of rotational velocity, and power is related to the cube. There are significant energy savings available when speed is even slightly reduced. A fan with a its speed reduced by 25% will be operating with a corresponding power drop of 55%. Fans, motors, and blowers can be used precisely for their loads. There should always be some headroom in motor abilities, in case of extreme demand; general operation usually occurs at less than maximal power loads. This power reduction can save a significant portion of operating costs; fans and pumps consume approximately 65% of all industrial energy.
A variable speed drive, such as the Powermiser VSD from EG Energy Controls can be applied to a variety of machinery. There are many possibilities for use of variable speed drives throughout the industrial world and this article will explore some of them. Broadly speaking, these are motor driven load, such as fans or pumps. More specifically there is direct potential for application in car repair and mechanics shops; fans are used in compressors for tools and lifts in these places. Industries with a significant amount of liquid handling in their repertoire could also benefit from a variable speed drive. Bottling plants, wineries and chemical facilities alike need pumps in their daily operation.
Even aside from specific industries, there is a large share of facilities with an HVAC system required to handle the needs of dozens or even hundreds of people. Controlling this energy expenditure thorugh a variable speed drive offers great savings. With the Powermiser VSD, savings are achieved often in a year, depending on usage level. An efficiency measure that turns over its investment so quickly would even be excellent accompanying some long term systems for energy conservation.
Another benefit of the variable speed drive is in the effect it has on equipment longevity. Regular operation for some devices, such as liquid and sewage pumps, involves periods of inconsistent flow. If the motor is being cycled on and off, large electrical currents will produce undesirable heat stress and magnetic stress. A variable speed drive can alter the speed slowly, and keeping pumps on stand-by levels, consuming minimal energy, but ensuring the pump itself lasts as it handles variable flow.
As a stand-alone system or as part of a host of energy conservation measures, variable speed drives such as the PowerMiser offers savings in multiple ways, to a significant number of energy consumers. Industrial users, commercial facilities and public buldings, have untapped control for their power usage.
December 26th, 2011 by egenergy
Energy and resource distribution infrastructure for a wide variety of facilities and industries can be quite complex. Energy can be used as heat, electricity, motors, compressors throughout the day. This schedule of energy consumption may be have some regular rhythm or may be subject to intense variations. Without a proper energy monitoring system in place, active control by energy managers requires intuition and constant examination. This could be an insurmountable task without help.
Help is readily available in the form of the Energy Surveillance System (ESS) from EG Energy Controls. This system combines hardware and software for a complete energy monitoring suite. It can handle electricity, water and gas, and thus, total control. Data can be collected and analyzed and complex sub-loads monitored for power quality in addition to consumption. This information is crucial for a number of industries, such as mining or machine shops, where power provided for tools and equipment needs to be of the utmost quality.
The Energy Surveillance System will give out automated alarms in case of any out of ordinary circumstances, to be determined by the user. Crucial systems will always have a set of eyes on the levels. This data can also automatically be compiled for verification with utilities and budgeting purposes. Nearly any criteria can be reported in the easy to use reports engine. You cannot manage what you cannot measure, and energy monitoring gives a crucial edge to insight. Industries as wide as electronics manufacturing to auto repair, facilities from shipping ports to hospitals can all excel with help from EG Energy Controls and the Energy Surveillance System.
Setup is modular and easily tailored to the specific installation. There are modular monitoring stations, each capable of monitoring 18 sub-loads. This communicates back with a dedicated server, loaded with EG Energy’s custom software. Energy monitoring personnel need not be at the facilities they are monitoring. Due to the scale-up nature of the system, it can be applied to many large facilities at once.
For control and reliability, examine EG Energy Controls suite of energy management solutions, including the Energy Surveillance System.
December 26th, 2011 by egenergy
Energy consumption is a significant part of expenditures across a wide variety of industries. An industrial complex, whether a textiles mill or a pharmaceutical facility, has similar, though obviously different, ways to use up energy. Throughout a day’s work (in many cases, the day does not end) there is electricity use through fans, motors and pumps, a wide assortment of lighting and office equipment and not to mention, specialized equipment for each industry. Water is consumed in a variety of processes, and keeping track accurately of this precious resource is essential for cost analysis and corporate social responsibility. Burners and heaters may be running off of natural gas or oil, another element to the requirements for industrial energy management. Each of these resources must be tracked and optimized for the utmost savings in money and environment. For the professionals in charge of these facilities, this can be a daunting task, however there exists an assortment of practical technologies for this purpose.
EG Energy Controls offers a variety of systems appropriate for the spectrum of industrial energy management. The Voltmiser HID lighting controller can reduce power consumption by lighting by up to 25%. Its calibrated voltage regulation system is appropriate for Metal Halide Lamps, High and Low Pressure Sodium lamps, and any High intensity discharge style lamp. Thus an essential part of industrial energy management has been optimized.
Fans, pumps and motors for everything from refrigeration units to air compressors and sewage pumps can be optimized by a similar style of control through EG Energy’s Variable Speed Drive system. This industrial controller can adjust the speed of fans involved for up to and over 50% energy savings on fans and pumps. Rotational energy management is a breeze; precise control over speed can improve power factor and equipment lifetimes.
In industrial energy management, one must consider also how the facility relates to the power suppliers. Being in tune with one’s times of maximum demand can serve energy management officers well; these charges can reach and exceed 50% of an industrial power bill if not regulated. EG Energy’s DemandMiser works to shed energy loads whenever it senses a peak in demand. This keeps the measured demand down on one’s bills, loosening the load on the electrical grid in the region and saving valuable currency.
To wrap all these optimized systems together, EG Energy offers the Energy Surveillance System. This system does work as a standalone, and was fully designed as such. It tracks electrical loads the the resources mentioned previously, gas/oil and water. Any abnormalities across the systems, whether it is a leaky and faulty refrigerator, or an improper power factor for a precise piece of equipment, has an automatic notification system in place to contact the appropriate energy management personnel. Reports and data can be customized and transferred automatically to accounting software and for bill verification purposes. To approach Energy Management with EG Energy’s selection of systems is a wise decision; not all energy management systems are created equal.
December 2nd, 2011 by egenergy
Industrial facilities are large scale consumers of electricity. As such, they frequently are charged large amounts on their electricity bill for demand usage. Demand usage is the maximum power required by the facility on a certain interval (determined by the electricity provider). For industrial facilities, this charge can represent upwards of 50% of the total bill. This is a significant portion of operational costs.
To reduce costs and overhead, one must look to where costs can be cut most effectively. Demand charges are definitely an example of this. Expenses can be cut without any major sacrifices in operations. It is simply a matter of predicting when the times of large power consumption will occur, and adjust correspondingly. This can be achieved by cycling operations slightly differently or shedding non-essential loads in times of high energy usage. Non-essential loads can be things like pumps, furnaces, machinery, compressors and lights. What is essential and what is not depends entirely on the application, this is the essence of demand control.
Adjusting these loads is not something to be done manually; that would be very difficult and not produce effective results. Instead an automated system must be put in place for demand control. One such system capable of handling industrial loads for demand control is the DemandMiser from EG Energy Controls . The system is made with industrial grade components and can communicate via multiple protocols for tracking of the system. It can then provide information to authorized personnel through the web interface.
The system requires the customer to choose the priorities of their loads; certain will be the first to go, certain ones will never be shed. This is entirely customizable. With a proper load shedding priority, an industrial facility can reduce energy by 25% without significantly changing operations. In any industry, this is quite significant. The DemandMiser can be used to increase overhead, extend equipment life and lessen strain on the power utilities.
November 25th, 2011 by egenergy
Humans prefer their environment to be within certain boundaries of heat, humidity and air flow. Consider a large facility where many people work and breathe, every day. People operate the best within their comfort levels. This depends on the person, the building and other situations; though there are general guidelines. An office or commercial building must then be tweaked for maximum efficiency in both power resources and human resources.
Energy management in commercial buildings is required for this goal. Without an accurate and comprehensive energy management system, one is operating blindly and has little chance of success. You cannot manage what you cannot measure, and energy management systems give this power. However, not all energy management systems are created equal. The best system on the market today is the Energy Surveillance System from EG Energy Controls. It can accurately track a variety of energy sub-loads (HVAC, lighting, heating, etc) and resources (electricity, gas, oil, water). Energy management for comfort levels will require insight and control into all these elements. For this application, (environmental control of a large commercial building), every floor or wing can benefit from energy management. The system will ensure proper light levels, heat levels, and even air circulation, once configured. Limits can be set at the crossing point of energy efficiency and comfort.
Consider a system that can automatically adjust air-flow and temperature once a certain shift changes over and there are less people in the building. This is one of the benefits of an efficient energy management system for commercial buildings. Your offices will stay comfortable and lively for everybody, at all times.
The Energy Surveillance System holds great potential not just for automation, but also notification. If any element in the system suffers from an abnormality (shut-down or other errors), the ESS can automatically, send e-mail notifications to authorized personnel. This will alert staff of an error that would have previously escaped notice for much longer. In doing this, the commercial building will maintain its environment consistently for workers.
The Energy Surveilllance System is a must have for any company or organization seeking to trim its expenses. The control that comes with the system brings forth 7% energy reductions immediately. This is in addition to the other benefits of automated environmental control. Energy management systems in commercial buildings must also provide data in a meaningful way. The system can create accurate reports with any criteria imaginable. This energy management system for commercial buildings can then be interfaced with accounting software and provide automated information for expenditure information. The information can be used for bill verification, budgeting or whatever other purposes are required. As such, for any company needing to manage a large facility, with a variety of energy sub-loads and resources used on a daily basis, the Energy Surveillance System is a great fit.