Product category:
Industrial Drives/Controls
News Release from: ABB Automation Tech (Drives and Motors) | Subject: Variable speed drives
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 06 June 2003
Drives cut pump energy bill for floor
maker
Floor maker Amtico has received ABB's special award for energy savings, recognising its outstanding achievement in saving GBP 15,000 per year on energy costs.
Floor maker Amtico has received ABB's special award for energy savings, recognising its outstanding achievement in saving GBP 15,000 per year on energy costs The award was presented to R and D Director Mike Cheetham at Amtico's site in Coventry
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 9 Nov 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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Amtico achieved the savings by installing a 55kW ABB drive on its main cooling tower pump, and 22 and 30kW ABB drives on its recirculation pumps.
Originally the cooling tower pump was started with a star-delta arrangement and ran constantly at 120bar, when only 80bar was needed.
Installing an AC drive and cutting the motor frequency to 40Hz delivered energy savings of more than 65% for this pump alone.
As well as the cost savings, the drives are also reducing CO2 emissions to the environment by over 220t per year.
"This shows the impact variable speed drives can make in the right applications", says James Haigh, General Manager Drive Products at ABB.
"This is one of the most efficient ways to save energy".
Amtico's drives were supplied by local ABB Drives Alliance partner, Sentridge Control, after its SEAChange energy audit programme showed the potential savings of AC drives.
Cheetham says: "We are in the business of making floor tiles, not saving energy.
However, we realise that we have to spend money to save money.
Our energy consumption is actually constant, but we are producing over 45% more flooring.
We are managing our energy consumption far more wisely that we did in the past".
Amtico is planning to fit a further seven drives on various pumps and fans throughout its plant, following the company's decision to include ABB drives as part of its overall energy strategy.
The estimated annual energy saving would reduce the present electricity bill by 5%, giving a payback period of just over one year.
Kevin Wells, Amtico Electrical Engineer, says: "Companies like Sentridge Control, who understand exactly what drives can offer and can prove the theory, make the potential of using VSDs much easier.
Everyone should investigate this approach - it really can save money immediately".
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