ELECTRIC MOTORS AND DRIVES II
85% – 90% of Electric Motors in use for commercial and industrial applications are three phase AC induction motors. The benefits are in their; Simplicity in design Efficiency Ruggedness Costs, low to operate Reliability Adaptability to variable frequency drives (VFDs) Today, we shall review some major characteristics/parameters of Electric Motor like the Efficiency, Loading/Load Factor […]
Electric Motors and Drives – (I)
Electric motors convert electrical energy into rotational mechanical energy. The motors are either AC or DC powered. Altogether they consume an estimated 50% of global electricity. Electric motors are highly efficient, reliable, offer long lasting service and cost relatively little to maintain. They come in sizes of thousands to fractions of a horsepower (1 HP= […]
Lighting Systems – CONTROLS, AUDITING AND $AVINGS
Today, we shall be finalizing on lighting systems and lamps, having gone through fundamentals I & II, lamp types and characteristics I & II. By discussing the typical methods of controlling lighting, steps towards lighting audits and how to calculate savings on lighting to improve bottom line. LIGHTING CONTROLS Lighting controls have a major impact […]
LAMPS – Types and Characteristics II
This section concludes the various types and general characteristics of lamps. METAL HALIDE LAMPS Metal halide lamps, also classified as HID lamps, are similar in design to mercury vapour lamps. The primary difference is that metal halides are used in addition to mercury inside the bulb. Metal halides are 1.5 to 2 times more efficient […]
LAMP – Types and Characteristics I
In this section, we shall look at the major types of lighting used in facilities.The lamp’s construction, general strengths, weaknesses and improvement opportunities. This knowledge when applied shall be a veritable tool in achieving lighting system efficiency thus saving money. Incandescent lamps The basic incandescent is as shown below. Electricity is passed through a filament, […]
Energy Audit – A Matter of Level (Type)
Before stating an energy audit, it is helpful to have some idea of the scope of the project and the level of effort necessary to meet expectations. Here we shall discuss the levels of surveys and assessments necessary to perform commercial building or industrial audits American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) […]
Fundamentals of Lighting Systems II
Today, we shall be talking on the general characteristics of lighting systems. The key indicators that shall help us understand the lighting designs, specifications, guidance in the upgrading and retrofitting lighting systems for optimal efficiency. Lighting Efficacy The efficacy of a lamp is expressed as the ratio of its light output over the energy input. […]
Fundamentals of Lighting Systems I
The electrical consumption in most industrial and commercial facilities can easily account for 50 -75% of the total utility costs. Hence, special attention must be paid into evaluating electrical systems. Electrical system audit cover the Lighting systems, Motors & drives and Power factor. Lighting system audit Lighting accounts for a significant portion of electrical energy, […]
Energy auditing – Getting the job done II
Having gone through the previous steps of obtaining utility bills, estimated heating and cooling loads, Site visitation, meeting with the facility manager (s) or equivalent (s) and concluded the facility survey. Our next steps will be to put it all together by analyzing the data collected and calculations for step 6. The final step 7 […]
Energy Auditing – Getting The Job Done 1
We are now all aware that energy audit or assessment is an inspection, survey and analysis of how energy is used in a building or facility. The sole aim being to conserve energy, achieve optimal efficiency and save costs without affecting the output. The next relevant and big questions are how do I get started? […]
