FEATURE
the effects of it once it happens - helping to make the process more efficient and reducing the overarching cost of the operation.
Most drive equipment is reliant on a DC-Bus within the drive which comprises a bank of capacitors which store rectified (DC) energy for use by the switching power electronics, and electric motor. The way the capacitors are charged up within the inverter, is directly responsible for the harmonic distortion caused by a VSD.
To help resolve this issue, a new solution has been brought to market, that has changed the DC-bus technology in its latest variable speed drive, which means
that it doesn’t generate as much distortion in the first place – no expensive, and efficiency sapping filters are required. This has also addressed a common reliability issue, as the electrolytic capacitors which are usually used in the DC bus, have a limited lifespan.
The new solution is simple to use yet feature packed, for the efficient control of fan and pumping applications. The new low harmonic DC bus technology also brings the additional benefit of a higher power factor, and has even improved efficiency. Available in an IP66, or IP55 enclosure, it’s also easy to install in plant rooms – or where there is limited space for a conventional electrical panel.
In terms of harmonic distortion, the manufacturers and the users of electrical equipment each have a role to play in ensuring standards are met which in turn will help make their own processes more efficient. For some time VSDs have been seen as the saviour of the manufacturing world in terms of efficiency yet, without careful consideration of harmonics and ultimately distortion, businesses are ultimately flogging a dead horse.
For more information on ERIKS please visit:
www.eriks.co.uk
E.ON LAUNCHES BUSINESS ENERGY AUDITS WHICH OFFER SAVINGS ADVICE THAT’S GUARANTEED TO PAY BACK
E
.ON has launched a new business energy audit service which is backed by a guarantee that the audits will identify energy saving measures that will be
worth more than their initial cost. CASE STUDY
Charleston Farm is a 1,400 acre dairy farm in Firle, Sussex, producing 8,840 litres of milk a year.
Owner Tom Gribble: “Before the
audit I thought we spent the most on lighting, but it actually makes up less than 4% of our electricity bill! The biggest culprits were water heating at 40% and milk cooling at 20%. “My energy audit revealed I could cut my energy costs by 31% just by making a few simple changes. “For example, putting timer switches on our water heaters so they run during the off-peak period, will save us around £173 a year. Similarly, heating the water to wash our milking parlour overnight on a night saver rate will save us around £650 a year. Cleaning our refrigeration equipment more often to improve airflow will save around £206 a year. “The audit really opened my eyes to the energy we were wasting and where we could save.”
The Business Energy Audits – aimed primarily at small and medium-sized businesses – interrogate the size and sector of a company, how they operate and where they use the most energy. They are carried out by specialist engineers either by telephone or through site visits. During the audit, business owners can talk through what changes could be made; ranging from improving the building fabric, upgrading to more efficient equipment, or even changing working practices and staff behaviours to help lower their energy use and bills.
Engineers then produce a tailored report around potential upgrades and the trade-offs between implementation costs and the savings they could deliver, providing the information business owners need to make any follow-up investment decisions. Iain Walker, Head of Business Energy Sales at E.ON, said: “Customers told us they often didn’t know where to turn when seeking help and advice in becoming more energy efficient, but they valued our experience and knowledge in helping them to use less energy and lower their bills. “Our Business Energy Audits offer a complete tailored view of how business premises use energy and where savings and improvements might be made to improve efficiency. To back that up, we guarantee the audit will identify savings more than
the cost of the audit or we’ll give customers their money back.”
Telephone audits are priced £180 per property and the property under audit must spend over £2,000 a year to qualify for the guarantee. For the on-site audit – priced £600 – the property must spend over £6,000 a year to qualify for the guarantee. The audits are backed by a new range of tools designed by E.ON to help business customers manage their energy use and invest in new ways of cutting their energy consumption.
These include the online Energy Toolkit which gives customers a clear and simple view of how they use energy, allowing them to monitor buildings and audit their activities. The Toolkit uses this insight to recommend simple changes they could make to save energy and costs in their business and offers discounts on energy efficient products such as more efficient LED lighting from supplier Rexel and smart metering to ensure more accurate bills.
Businesses should call 0330 400 1734 or visit
www.eonenergy.com/for-your- business/small-to-medium-energy-users/ saving-energy/energy-advice to find out more and book a suitable date and time for their Business Energy Audit
ENERGY MANAGER MAGAZINE • MARCH 2016
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