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january 2010
In times like these, you need more than the right product in the right place. That’s
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swa4778-04_PlantServices_AR_20090904.indd
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table of contents
January 2010 / Vol. 31, No. 1
features
20 / COVER STORY
Wanted: Wasted energy
Capture the reward of higher efficiency
26 / COMPRESSORS
Taming Multiple Compressors
Compressor sequencers are not all equal if the system
is complex
31 / LIGHTING
Upgrade Inefficient Hibays
You’ll see your way to better reliability and cost savings
Exclusives specialists
15 / Human Capital 19 / Technology Toolbox
Save money with certified used, surplus electrical
equipment Supervisors and Motor Efficiency
Keep business competitive and safe while cutting landfill waste Self-Directed Work Teams Standards
and saving the environment Setting a reasonable span of A worldwide effort will shrink
control is the most effective the energy footprint of motor
www.PlantServices.com/articles/2009/204.html
approach systems
Exploring the value of living RCM 17 / Asset Manager 42 / Energy Expert
In this pilot project, a municipal electricity utility teamed with
Asset Lifecycle What Happened
OMDEC to explore the value of living RCM in actual operation
Management at Copenhagen?
using live client data.
Characterized by complexity, More than you might have
www.PlantServices.com/articles/2009/196.html it’s driven by risk been lead to believe
mike brenner
Group Publisher
mbrenner@putman.net
russell l. kratowicz, p.e. cmrp It’s January in Chicago, when tem- thawing, energy prices are going back
Executive Editor
russk@putman.net peratures plunge, snow falls and often we up, carbon caps are coming, the Dow’s
find ourselves starting the car and letting rising, and unemployment appears to be
Alexis Gajewski
Associate Editor, Digital Media it idle to warm up while we brush and bottoming out. Opportunities already
agajewski@putman.net scrape winter’s wonders off the glass and abound for businesses that thrive when
stephen c. herner
lights. I was doing that with my 1992 Civic people are watching pennies (food pro-
Group Art Director (253,000 miles) the other day when I no- cessing, repairs, energy), and soon your
sherner@putman.net ticed a pretty solid knock coming from the customers and your employees will again
jennifer dakas cold engine. It was the kind of knock that be able to choose where to spend their
Art Director goes straight to the heart of anyone who’s time and money.
jdakas@putman.net
had the experience of looking through the
david berger, p.eng. side of an engine block at a broken con- “Soon, your customers
Contributing Editor
necting rod (on three separate occasions). and your employees will
peter garforth The knock made a fine soundtrack
Contributing Editor again be able to choose
as I brushed the snow off (or into?) the
sheila kennedy gaping rust holes around the rear wheel where to spend their time
Contributing Editor
openings. The corrosion isn’t structural, and money.”
joel leonard but it’s working its way around the
Contributing Editor
repairs I made a few years ago to the rear
bob sperber bumper cover attachment points. Are you ready for them? Can you take
Editor at Large And ah, the aroma from the tailpipe. advantage of the lessons learned and ef-
The car makes good power and gets great ficiencies gained during these lean times
publication services
mileage, but the all-original engine now for smoothly turning up production at
carmela kappel uses a quart of 5W-30 every 2,500 miles. new levels of quality, efficiency, and reli-
Assistant to the Publisher
ckappel@putman.net That’s not enough to explain the strange ability? Or are you looking at a plant full
odors it’s taken to emitting through the of patched-up equipment, attended by a
jerry clark
V.P., Circulation original cat. It’s due for an emissions test skeleton crew of disgruntled employees?
jclark@putman.net this fall; maybe I’ll learn something. The Conference Board says job sat-
jack jones Ten million cars were sold, but 14 isfaction is the lowest it’s been since it
Circulation Director million were scrapped in the United started tracking it in 1987. You laid off
jjones@putman.net
States in 2009 (700,000 under cash-for- your least valuable people, are you going
rita fitzgerald clunkers). In China, 8 million cars were to hang onto your best? Or, will you soon
Production Manager sold, and analysts expect the Chinese to be starting those long, costly searches
rfitzgerald@putman.net
buy 14 million in 2012. Draw your own for qualified replacements while you lose
claudia stachowiak conclusions, but I wouldn’t be surprised new business to your competitors?
Reprints Marketing Manager
Foster Reprints to see people standing in line to pay list- By the time I came back to the front
(866) 879-9144 ext. 121 price-plus for an ordinary new car in the of my car to finish cleaning the wipers,
claudia@fostereprints.com
United States before the end of 2010. the knock had subsided. Maybe the car
administrative staff Federally-funded state programs of in- will last another year, maybe not. Does
centives for purchases of energy-efficient anyone make duct tape in “Torino Red?”
john m. cappelletti
President/CEO
appliances, water heaters, and HVAC
equipment will be leapt upon like cash-
julie cappelletti-lange
Vice President
for-clunkers once people realize they’re
in effect only while the funding lasts. PAUL STUDEBAKER, CMRP, Editor in Chief
keith larson The frozen landscape for housing is pstudebaker@putman.net, (630) 467-1300 x433
V.P., Content
rose southard
IT Director www.PLANTSERVICES.com January 2010 7
Final recommendations from The Business Roundta- tions in postsecondary completion rates.
ble’s Springboard Project are designed to ensure that Ameri- American workers remain the most productive in the
can workers thrive after the economy rebounds. With a world, but the country risks losing that edge if we don’t
widening gap between employers’ demands for more skilled foster opportunities and the expectation that workers must
workers and workers’ skills, there’s an urgent need for a upgrade their skills throughout their careers. Seventy-three
better educated, trained workforce. The recommendations percent of the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics’ projected fast-
highlight public policy changes and business-led initiatives est growing occupations over the next six years will require
to overcome obstacles that threaten U.S. competitiveness. some level of postsecondary or vocational credentials.
The project’s members include a group of education and Furthermore, the occupations requiring the lowest qualifica-
business leaders, labor experts, union chiefs, academics, tions are the least secure.
foundation heads, and former government officials. “Improving education is essential to building a bet-
Business Roundtable says stagnant earnings and job instabil- ter trained and skilled workforce,” says William Green,
ity plagued American workers well before the recession began chairman and CEO of Accenture and chairman of The
because of low high school graduation rates, poor college Springboard Project. “This must be a top national priority if
completion rates, and inadequate levels of education. Globally, America is to retain a leadership position in an increasingly
the United States ranks second-to-last among developed na- competitive global economy.
resources
Notify the masses Find Safe, Reconditioned Electrical Equipment
Learn about ongoing developments in emergency mass Looking for a hard-to-find transformer replacement?
notification for industrial operations that process, use, Need that motor control faster than the six-week lead
store, and distribute hazardous materials such as chemi- time from the OEM? The Professional Electrical Ap-
cals, gases, and petroleum products. Federal Signal paratus Recyclers League (PEARL) offers PEARL
Corp.’s 14-page report, “Planning and Developing Effective Link, where you can send an RFQ to the organiza-
Emergency Mass Notification Strategies for Hazardous tion’s 50 qualified equipment-rebuilding corporate
Industrial Applications in the Post 9/11 Era,” examines members with one click. Visit www.pearl1.org.
issues ranging from planning requirements and methodolo-
NRCA Releases Latest Roofing Manual
gies to system development and newly available technol-
The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA)
ogy. It’s in the library at www.federalsignal-indust.com.
is releasing the NRCA Roofing Manual: Architectural
Put PID tuning tips in your pocket Metal Flashing, Condensation Control and Reroof-
ControlSoft Inc.’s PID Loop Tuning Pocket Guide is ing — 2010. The manual will complete The NRCA
now available in its 4th edition. The new edition of this Roofing Manual, which also includes Membrane Roof
concise, 12-page publication includes tuning instructions Systems — 2007; Metal Panel and SPF Roof Systems
for cascade loops and an expanded reference section on — 2008; and Steep-slope Roof Systems — 2009. Find
common controllers. Find it at www.controlsoftinc.com. out how to obtain one or all on CD at www.nrca.net.
In 2007, after only 10 years in service but countless ply water temperatures between 180°F and 120°F based on
repairs, deteriorating efficiency, and four consecutive changes in outside air temperature. On the coldest winter
increases in annual natural gas consumption, OFS Fitel, night, when local temperatures dip to -5°F, the system deliv-
LLC (OFS, www.ofsoptics.com) replaced five, one million ers 180°F supply water. However, on days when ambient
BTU/hr copper-fin boilers with two Benchmark 2.0 Low temperatures exceed 65°F, the system can deliver adequate
NOx (BMK2.0LN) boilers from AERCO (www.aerco.com). heat and humidity control with a 120°F boiler supply set
The new boilers’ high turndown and condensing operation point. Varying supply water temperature according to out-
reduced the Avon, Conn.-based fiber optic manufacturing side air temperature reduces energy consumption because
company’s energy consumption by 25% in the first year. it promotes condensing. The new plant should operate in
The new boilers were to fit into a small space on an equip- condensing mode whenever the outside air temperature
ment mezzanine, there was a strict timeframe for installa- rises above 45°F.
tion, and the budget was tight. OFS management worked The five original, one million BTU/hr boilers were
with its HVAC contractor, Tradesmen of New England equipped with on/off burners and operated sequentially.
(TNE, www.tradesmanofne.com), and Ed Adajian of Ada- Only four of the units were needed at peak load, so the plant
jian Engineering (www.aeipe.com) to aid with the solution. had 4:1 staged turndown. It could meet loads of one, two,
TNE researched boilers and chose two condensing and three or four million BTU/hour effectively, but units would
fully-modulating units plus the company’s multi-unit con- cycle to meet any other demand. Cycling wastes energy.
troller, the AERCO Boiler Management System (BMS). Each new BMK2.0LN boiler delivers 20:1 turndown to
Although the original boilers were listed as Category IV match any load from 100,000 BTU/hr to 2 million BTU/hr
condensing appliances, upon the first exchanger corrosion without cycling. Managed by the BMS controller, the four
failure, the manufacturer advised a minimum of 140°F be million BTU/hr boiler plant has 40:1 infinite turndown.
returned to the boiler plant. Consequently, OFS’ 20° ΔT hy- “Energy savings from reduced cycling are obvious dur-
dronic heating loop was operated year-round based on 180°F ing colder New England weather, when there are far fewer
supply setpoint and 160°F return to protect the copper-fin opportunities to condense,” says TNE’s Marc Riccardi, “but
boilers from the corrosive effect of condensing operation. I think that it’s actually during the summer months, when
With the BMK2.0LN retrofit, OFS was able to vary sup- loads are at their very lowest, that the new equipment really
shines. Rather than responding to demand with repeated
Natural Gas Consumption (CCF) blasts of one million BTU/hr., the Benchmarks can steadily
20,000 deliver as little as 100,000 BTU/hr without shutting down.”
2006-2007 The new units occupy a small footprint (12 sq. ft.) and can
17,500 be installed in pairs with zero side-wall clearance. Installa-
tion was scheduled to be done over Thanksgiving weekend,
15,000 between Friday and Monday morning. TNE coordinated the
efforts of its personnel, as well as the work of electricians,
12,500 riggers, roofers, and pipe fitters required for the job. The new
boiler plant was online before the building ever became cool.
10,000 The AERCO BMS controller was easily integrated into the
2007-2008 building’s existing Energy Management system via Modbus
7,500 communications protocol at no additional expense to OFS.
After calibration and adjustment by TNE, OFS began to
5,000 enjoy savings. Tracking monthly gas consumption clearly
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New Pig
Operational Excellence
However you define it, the foundation is reliability
Our inaugural guest column is excerpted from the first of a can be used in the initial discussions of what an organization
“Road to Reliability” article series on reliability and mainte- believes the model should be.
nance from both fundamental and leading practices perspec- Five basic or foundational elements exist in this model.
tives. The full articles are at www.PlantServices.com/voices/ Reliability in, and integration of, each element produces the
road_to_reliability.html. If you have something to say, send foundation for success. So, what does it mean to have reli-
“Your Space” columns to pstudebaker@putman.net. ability in these elemental areas?
People: Reliable people represent a motivated, educated
Many items affect and contribute to operational excel- workforce that understands how to carry out their defined
lence, but reliability is a core underpinning. Companies can roles and responsibility, while being accountable for results.
draw on a wide-ranging group of lean or world-class manu- They work together on a team-oriented basis, backstopping
one another when necessary, with individual egos subjugated
Debate what makes up operational to the common good.
Processes: Reliable processes arewell-defined, appropriate
excellence, but once the debate ends, production and business (work management) processes in
rally around the accepted vision. which the workforce is educated and trained. The processes
are revalidated or updated continuously, and training is re-
inforced periodically in both the classroom and on the floor.
facturing techniques and tools, but if reliability is lacking, so Systems: Reliable systems are computerized systems that
will plant performance. An operationally-excellent organiza- mirror and support the business processes. The systems
tion can start its equipment on demand, complete the produc- are designed and configured to support business objectives
tion run in a quality, timely manner based on design capacity, rather than the reverse. They don’t merely provide data, but
and shut down without mishap. This is done in a safe, cost- also generate information that is ready for analysis, decision-
effective manner, compliant with regulatory requirements. making, or action-taking.
Operational excellence requires excellence in reliability. Technology: Reliable technology means having state-of-the-
Multiple definitions of operational excellence and world- art tools to feed your systems with timely data or provide data
class reliability abound. Anybody working in the field for a analysis leading to prevention or resolution of problems.
significant time, whether as a consultant, an academic, or Equipment: Reliable equipment is an outcome of the four
a practitioner, has likely developed their own. Individuals items outlined above. But, it also is a result of the decision
and groups can argue ad infinitum or ad nauseam why their process when the unit is built, long before people, systems, pro-
model is the most correct while others are deficient. But, it’s cesses, and technology are applied to operate and maintain it.
not generally a question of being right or wrong, as most So, to summarize, if we install “fit for purpose” equipment
definitions have a degree of commonality. The danger is that that isoperated and maintained by a motivated and edu-
some individuals and organizations debate endlessly, losing cated workforce, supported by properly designed business
focus on the need to get off the dime and actually start mak- processes, systems, and technology, we have the potential to
ing the operational improvements. achieve operational excellence.
Within an organization, it’s critical that employees share a Along with the five foundation elements, the proposed
common vision of operational excellence. Personnel should operational excellence model includes five pillars: organiza-
openly debate what makes up operational excellence, but tional alignment, asset reliability, regulations or compliance,
once the debate ends, they need to rally around the accepted manufacturing, and energy. See our explanation of these
vision and strive wholeheartedly toward its attainment. pillars and how they relate to the foundational elements at
For organizations that haven’t yet defined the key elements www.PlantServices.com/voices/road_to_reliability.html.
or components of an operational excellence initiative, we’ll
describe an example. We aren’t claiming that this is “the” op- Andy Ginder, vice president, ABB Reliability Consulting, may be
timal model of operational excellence, but it’s a template that reached at andy.p.ginder@us.abb.com.
For a free sample,* visit BlueWorksBrand.com/sample and enter Offer Code PSB
Establishing self-directed work teams is easy, but de- resources. Projected efficiency gains evaporate if teams lack
veloping and supporting them requires effort. A work force is confidence in your ability to develop and support them.
organized as either a traditional or a self-directed work team What about accountability? You need a monitoring entity
(SDWT). Traditional structures are organized by function. Em- to require the team to implement corrective actions if things
ployees perform specialized tasks under top-down supervision, get outside of limits. Some SDWTs take this responsibil-
and directives are aligned with the function. People are viewed ity upon themselves. In reality, especially during the early
as tools to complete tasks, each of which has its own objective, stages (or if support hasn’t been adequate or consistent) the
sometimes working at cross purposes to other functions. teams can’t drive performance from within.
SDWT structures are organized around core processes.
Team members are cross-trained to perform multiple tasks. Gutting supervisory and
Leadership is shared. Decisions made at the point of action are management levels leaves
better and faster, and reduce inefficiencies. The implication is
that a layer of supervision can be eliminated. inadequate development and
Establishing a SDWT requires communicating the con- support resources.
cept to the people affected, designing the team, establishing
a charter, defining the core processes and establishing the
team’s culture. The charter details the team’s customers, You need to consider the support and development of
mission, values, and goals. You’ll need a set of standards for individual team members. Traditional or SDWT, high-per-
the work processes, roles and responsibilities, procedures, forming plants encourage technical, professional, leadership,
normal practices, and ways to interact with other plant sys- and management development for workers. If your supervi-
tems and teams. You might include a statement about how sory level is decimated, who will advocate for increased job
team members are to interact with each other, a discussion skills, who will be the next generation of supervisors?
about trust and respect, communication, team cohesion, etc. If you reorganize towards the SDWT model, don’t handi-
That’s easy. Developing and supporting teams is harder. cap the program by gutting the supervisory and manage-
Often, when management tries to implement SDWTs, the ment levels. There are practical limits to how many people
focus is on reducing labor costs by cutting the number of one supervisor can develop and support. The ratio of opera-
managers and supervisors. After all, self-directed implies tions and maintenance personnel to first-line supervisors
the teams don’t need supervisors. Right? can be as little as 4:1 to as much as 40:1. The range varies
SDWTs are comprised of people. Often, the number of relative to the complexity of the work and the professional
people carrying out the core functions doesn’t change very capability of the supervisor and team members.
much. You must consider your approach to developing and Recently, I spoke with a manager at a food plant who
supporting both the SDWTs and individual team mem- related how they implemented SDWTs and drastically upped
bers. Successful programs show participants what they’re the worker-to-supervisor ratio to something on the order
expected to know and do, explain how to do it, coach them of 80:1. In my opinion, there’s no way an organization can
through it one or more times, and clarify or correct them develop and support either the teams or the individuals very
when they need support. Participants must understand what effectively with such a wide span of control.
they are to do, be coached until they’re proficient and confi- Traditional organizational structures have weaknesses
dent, and have guidance, clarification, and support. as well. My point isn’t to suggest that SDWTs are unwork-
It’s unikely the initial charter and team design will ac- able. My point is that if you have or are considering SDWTs,
count for every circumstance to be faced. They’ll stumble don’t underestimate the role of supervisors and managers in
from time to time; they’ll need support of a higher-level au- achieving business goals from the reorganization.
thority when they need resources and decisions outside their
scope of responsibilities. Gutting supervisory and manage- Tom Moriarty, P.E., CMRP, is president of Alidade MER Inc. Con-
ment levels leaves inadequate development and support tact him at tjmpe@alidade-mer.com and (321) 773-3356.
Read our white paper on how to take your organization to the Next
Generation of Maximum Overall Equipment Efficiency! Call 1.888.437.4968
today to get your copy.
I F S – T H E G L O B A L E N T E R P R I S E A P P L I C AT I O N S C O M PA N Y
w w w. I F S W O R L D . c o m
When it comes to managing capital assets effectively cycle, most often managed by the Operations Department.
throughout their lifetime, there are many barriers to overcome. Software tools: ERP Material Requirements Planning (MRP)
One of the most formidable roadblocks is the silo-thinking of and other operational modules; shop-floor data collection;
decades past, both for software tools and the people responsible Human-Machine Interface (HMI); Supervisory Control and
for using them. In recent years, as companies begin to think Data Acquisition (SCADA); Programmable Logic Controller
more strategically about their assets, demand for a more inte- (PLC); Building Management System (BMS); a wide variety
grated approach has steadily increased. of asset-specific, proprietary software
Furthermore, rising asset cost and complexity have Maintenance: The Maintenance Department is responsi-
resulted in a surge in operational and financial risk, such as ble for maximizing the availability, reliability, and perfor-
the consequences of catastrophic failure. In turn, this has mance of the asset at minimal cost during the Operation
intensified pressure from shareholders and regulatory bod- stage. It occurs whenever there is a breakdown, planned
ies to improve lifecycle costing and reporting. Fortunately, shutdown, periodic preventive maintenance inspection, and
opportunities exist for better managing your assets through- so on. Software tool: CMMS
out their lifecycle. The asset lifecycle has eight main stages, Modification/Refurbishment: At times, a business need,
each with its own people and technology silos: technology change, wear, or a functional failure precipitates
Strategy/Plan: Long-term capital plans include replace- modification or refurbishment of the asset by Engineering,
ment of aging assets, as well as new assets that accommodate Maintenance or an outside vendor. Software: CMMS; CAD;
growth. Software tools: capital asset planning software; ERP Procurement and Fixed Asset Accounting modules
strategic planning software Disposal: When an asset is no longer satisfying the needs
Design: Execution of the Stage 1 plan begins with the of the business in a cost-effective manner, Engineering and
design of new or replacement assets by internal or external Procurement Departments are typically involved in retiring
engineering resources. Software tools: Computer-Aided it. Software: ERP Procurement and Fixed Asset Accounting
Design (CAD); Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) As can be seen from these descriptions, the numerous
Build/Procure/Acquire: An asset is built, purchased, or islands of automation and various departments responsible
acquired through the procurement department. Software for each stage make it difficult to integrate, manage, and
tools: CAD; Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Fixed As- optimize asset performance along its entire lifecycle. How-
set Accounting and Procurement modules ever, the latest trend among the more sophisticated CMMS
Installation: Internal engineering, operations, and main- vendors is to provide more advanced functionality that ac-
tenance resources work with external vendors to install and commodates the business needs of each stage, either directly
test the asset. Software tools: ERP Fixed Asset Accounting within the CMMS, or through links to external software.
module; CAD; project management; various off-the-shelf For example, several modern CMMS packages track “move
and asset-specific quality assurance and testing software history” of any serialized asset or component, from initial
Operation: This stage provides the greatest source of installation to disposal, including any appreciation or deprecia-
revenue, and ultimately, the return on capital employed. tion of the asset along the way. Some CMMS packages have
It’s the longest and most expensive stage in an asset life- an engineering module fully integrated with the maintenance
Build/
Strategy/ Modify/
Design Procure/ Install Operate Maintain Dispose
plan Refurb
Acquire
15% 80% 5%
% Total lifecycle cost
Contrary to general perception, most of an asset’s lifecycle cost (80%) stems from operations and maintenance.
modules for a smooth transition from design, build, and instal- each asset class, along the entire asset lifecycle and across
lation, to operation and maintenance stages. Finally, the more the enterprise. This will dramatically reduce capital and
robust ERP packages have fully integrated procurement, fixed maintenance costs. Moreover, using standard processes,
asset accounting and maintenance modules. definitions, and software tools will provide economies of
Asset Class Integration: Not only do silos exist through- scale, as well as improve accountability and compliance.
out the lifecycle of an asset, there also are silos for each asset Effective Risk Management: Even the most basic assets
class across the enterprise. The five major asset classes are: are becoming smarter with embedded technology such as
• Plant Equipment (eg, within a production line) RFID devices, sensors, and onboard computers. As our
• Facilities (eg, buildings) dependency on the technology has increased, the risks as-
• Fleet/Mobile Equipment (eg, vehicles, fork lift truck) sociated with these more complex assets have skyrocketed.
• Infrastructure (eg, bridges, roads, pipelines) As a result, you should develop rapidly-adaptable costing
• Information Technology (eg, computers, routers) models that account for the risks and liabilities associated with
Each asset class might have a separate department respon- each stage in an asset’s lifecycle. Anticipate the consequence of
sible for maintenance, as well as a standalone CMMS (eg, a failure for the asset overall and each of its major components.
fleet-specific maintenance management system, a CMMS In so doing, you can build a capital plan and lifecycle model
that can handle linear assets, specialized software for IT that minimizes risk and supports appropriate capital funding
assets). When you couple these silos with those along the through proper analysis of the options.
lifecycle of each asset class, one realizes the huge opportun-
ity for improvement. Through enterprise asset management, E-mail Contributing Editor David Berger, P.Eng., partner, Western
resources and technology solutions can be integrated for Management Consultants, at david@wmc.on.ca.
ENVIRONMENTALLY
PREFERRED PRODUCTS
Motor efficiency standards established by the U.S. or wireless information about energy, emissions, and motor
Energy Independence and Security Act, the International diagnostics over the Internet.
Electrotechnical Commission, and the European Commis- Greater torque: A line of high-torque, variable-speed
sion Eco-design Regulatory Committee led motor manufac- gearmotors is available for applications needing more ef-
turers to up performance and efficiency, reduce energy use, ficiency, variable speed, and no maintenance. Bison Gear &
and minimize greenhouse gas emissions. Engineering Corp. increased the torque capability of its Ver-
Efficiency targets: Europe’s IE3 minimum-efficiency
standard for new motors, mandatory in 2015, is comparable
to the U.S. NEMA Premium standard. Motors developed by
Zero-emission systems are moving
Baldor comply with both. The Super-E Metric IE3 AC mo- us toward energy independence.
tors are available in 22 ratings, from 4 kW to 375 kW, with
three speed options at each. Full-load maximum efficiency
ranges from 89.9% to 96.3%. Using durable, cast-iron IEC dant Duty 3-phase AC gearmotors by seven times with its
frame types and wound with Baldor’s inverter spike-resis- new 650 Series Verdant Duty AC gearmotors. The variable-
tant magnet wire, the motors are “inverter ready” and as speed, inverter-duty units are constructed for long-life and
much as 100 times more resistant to transient spikes, short continuous-duty torque outputs from 148 to 717 in-lbs.
rise-time pulses, and high frequencies. Improved insulation Matching AC drives in NEMA 4X enclosures are available.
materials are said to withstand peak voltages to 1,600 V. Pollution-free design: Zero-emission systems are mov-
Exceeding standards: Some are moving beyond mini- ing us toward energy independence. A lightweight motor
mum standards. Siemens Energy & Automation’s compact developed at Oxford University’s Department of Engineer-
SH630 Above NEMA AC motor meets or exceeds them. Part ing Science shows promise for efficient, high-performance
of the H-compact Plus series, the SH630 produces as much electric vehicles, aerospace, renewable, and industrial ap-
as 11,000 hp at voltages to 13.8 kV at 60 Hertz. Low-windage plications that require improved power-to-weight ratios and
design and precision components minimize friction. Vacu- compact drive systems. Oxford Yasa Motors, a spin-off from
um-impregnated insulation ensures thermal stability, surge the university, will commercialize the prototypes.
strength, and resistance to severe operating conditions. Originally devised for the hydrogen-powered 2008 Mor-
NASA-inspired: Cleantech companies focus on environ- gan lightweight, fuel-efficient car, the motor was configured
mental sustainability. Power Efficiency Corp., whose E-Save in collaboration with Delta Motorsports for a new four-seat
motor technology blends work by NASA with the company’s coupe. The yokeless and segmented armature motors were
patented and patent-pending technologies. The 3-Phase Mo- optimized by removing the gearbox to reduce weight, leav-
tor Efficiency Controller (MEC) line, now rated for IP00 and ing the rotor as the only moving part. Weighing 23 kg, the
IP65/NEMA 4X, uses the E-Save platform that optimizes direct-drive motor reportedly requires half the volume and
the efficiency of large motors operating at a constant speed, gives twice the torque for the same power output. It has a
and under variable or light loads. It senses the curent/volt- peak torque of 500 N-m, and peak power of about 50 kW,
age phase lag and adapts the energy fed to the motor accord- which can be extended to approximately 75 kW.
ingly. Because less electricity is consumed, CO2 emissions
are reduced. E-mail Contributing Editor Sheila Kennedy, managing director of
Three new 3-Phase MEC frames enable energy savings Additive Communications, at Sheila@addcomm.com.
for AC induction motors rated to 300 hp. The UL-certified
frames are controlled by a digital signature processor (DSP) Reference Web sites:
using proprietary algorithms. The solid-state motor control- www.baldor.com www.bisongear.com
ler features soft starting and electronic motor-protection. www.sea.siemens.com www.eng.ox.ac.uk
An optional Ethernet interface and upgraded MECAssistant www.powerefficiencycorp.com www.deltamotorsports.com
control software offer the potential to share real-time, wired
A beverage bottling plant had three oil-cooled rotary screw Plant management called in independent compressed air
compressors as its primary air supply. One 150-hp class, consulting company Air Power USA (www.airpowerusainc.
750 acfm at 100 psig at 129 kW unit served as base load com) to review the situation. “Air Power USA identified the
with two 75-hp class, 360 acfm at 100 psig at 63 kW units primary problems as a too small collector header (3 in.)
as trim compressors. combined with high turbulence generated by the configured
When the 150-hp compressor was able to run base load crossing ‘T’ and dead head,” according to Hank van Ormer
during production, everything was fine. During the first hour at Air Power (upper figure). There were other suggestions
of the production shift, usually the demand would exceed to reduce air demand, but the piping situation meant “the
the 150-hp supply, the first trim unit (No. 2) would come central air management system was not able to control
on, and the 150-hp unit would short cycle at an average of properly as it continued to receive erratic signals and pres-
about 50% to 60% load. The trim unit and the base load sure spikes from the high-turbulent-driven backpressure.”
unit then ran all the time at mostly part load. The peak Air Power USA recommended a 4-in. header to replace
load occurs less than 10% of the time but because of the the current 3-in., with directional entry to eliminate the
short cycling, annual energy consumption for production crossing tees and dead heads (lower figure). It also rec-
operation was $68,500 instead of $59,800 as planned. ommended several air-saving projects including no-loss
The sanitation shift used a steady 450 acfm and this was condensate drains, conversion of open blow-off lines to
effectively supplied by the 150-hp class unit, at an annual venturi amplifiers, converting air vibrators to electric and,
energy cost of $20,600. most important, repairing air leaks and continuing to
The weekend shift average of 277 acfm demand only pursue an active compressed air leak detection program.
calls for one 75-hp class compressor; however, two units With a stable header and lower pressure loss, the com-
are on almost all the time. As soon as the random demand pressor’s overall discharge pressure was reduced from 110
exceeds the 360 acfm available from one unit, the second psig to 90 psig (20 psig, or about a 8% to 10% reduction
unit comes on and both units short in kW) and still delivered a stable
cycle at 50% to 60% load. They 85 psig to the production area.
never reach full blow down and With a stable header pres-
idle. At 50% load, annual energy sure, the central compressed air
cost in this mode was $26,000. management system was able to
The actual electrical operating do its job and keep the most ef-
energy cost far exceeded the ficient air compressed alignment
projected cost, and the compres- on line considering flow, pressure,
sors had to be run at a higher timing, and individual unit char-
pressure of 108 to 110 psig acteristics. The changes reduced
to deliver 80 to 85 psig to the the total annual electrical operat-
operating system, which also ing energy cost from $115,208 to
didn’t match the design criteria. $57,140, a reduction of 54%.
Plants are recognizing that typical on-site cogeneration of heat ing and stationary surfaces. A favorable byproduct of this
or steam and electric power can yield fuel efficiencies of about efficiency savings is an associated increase in power. Typical
70%, compared to about 30% for electricity generated at re- improvements for this package applied to a vintage GE E/B
gional powerplants and transmitted many miles to a facility. class unit is approximately a 3% to 5% decrease in heat rate
We’re seeing an increasing number of applications where and a 5% to 6% increase in output.
turbines are being retrofitted for higher efficiency, increased “T-fire” upgrade: The output of the gas turbine can be in-
capacity, and lower emissions. “Industrial and power-generation creased by increasing the firing temperature of the unit. The
facilities are being squeezed for output, and it’s hard to get hotter exhaust stream from the combustion system has higher
permits for additional facilities,” says Anne McEntee, general energy content. However, the downstream components in the
manager, Power Services, GE Energy (www.ge.com). hot gas path have to accommodate these higher temperatures
At Dubai Aluminum, a 30-year-old plant on the coast, electric and not adversely affect the maintenance interval or costs. GE
power represents 30% to 40% of the cost of production. “The uses advanced technology such as creep-resistant, high-
plant was seeing tremendous growth, and needed to increase temperature alloys, thermal-barrier coatings, and optimized
capacity by 100 MW without increasing the facility footprint,” cooling circuits that serve to protect the hot gas path com-
McEntee says. ponents from the increased heat and thereby maintain com-
GE modified Dubai’s turbines with tighter seals, higher firing ponent durability. Typical improvements for this package
temperature, and improved airflow. The changes increased pow- applied to a vintage GE E/B class unit can range from 3%
er output by 13% using less total fuel, and lowered NOx per unit to 10%, depending on unit age. An associated benefit of
output by 15%. The same technologies can be used to decrease this package is an increase in exhaust energy, which is valu-
energy consumption by increasing efficiency and running slower: able to cogeneration and combined-cycle applications.
Advanced seals (ValPak technology): One significant way of Lean head end (LHE) liner: This modification reduces
improving the efficiency of a gas turbine is to decrease the NOx emissions. The number, diameter, and location of
amount of leakage flow through the machine and thereby maxi- mixing and dilution holes in the LHE liner is different than
mize the amount of high-pressure gas directed through the in a standard liner, which introduces more air into the
turbine stages that produce the power. Advanced materials and head end of the combustor to reduce NOx emissions.
designs such as brush seals, cloth seals, honeycomb shrouds, “The turbine upgrade saved half the cost versus new capac-
and abradable coatings improve the sealing between the rotat- ity,” McEntee says, “$50 million versus $100 million.”
“Often, people don’t try to stretch themselves, or the typically a quarter of the gains come from low-cost mea-
people closest to the process don’t have the skill set. They sures that pay back in less than a year.”
become overwhelmed at the totality. They think, ‘What can If 25% to 50% of energy savings are to come from within
I do?’” says Randall Witte, CEM, president, Emc2 ConServ, the plant, it makes sense to build energy awareness, gather
Inc. (http://lighthouse-us-inc.com). “Stop and look at the ideas, and recognize results on the floor. “Contrary to com-
system and ask, ‘What if?’ If you see something you ques- monly held views, breakthrough energy productivity rarely
tion, ask about it. You might not have the whole answer, but comes from a few obvious magic bullets; it comes from cap-
don’t be afraid to challenge the status quo.” turing hundreds and thousands of small wins throughout
the company,” says Garforth.
KNOWN WHEREABOUTS
Some energy-saving opportunities, such as lighting, are pretty HOT ON THE TRAIL
obvious. Some can be readily identified by experts or consul- Those thousands of small wins range from control strategies
tants, for example, air compressor controls. Some, like motor to compressed air leaks, and finding them requires constant
management, give reliable results over time if you support a awareness, observation, and communication. Build a system
consistent program with a persistent leader. These relatively for submitting and encouraging questions and observations
large, well-defined projects can be identified, quantified and ex- about anything that uses energy.
ecuted by a small number of experts, engineers and managers. “I go into different facilities and see the same technology
In a typical facility, one-fourth of energy cost savings applied at several sites, too often without question,” says
come from capital projects external experts identify, and Witte. For example, it takes a lot more gas flow to transport
one-fourth from managing energy procurement more effec- powders horizontally than vertically. “To save energy, raise
tively, says Garforth. One-fourth result from capital projects the powder to a suitable height, then slope the run through
identified from within the plants themselves, “usually with the horizontal distance to match the transport speed so the
returns in excess of 20%,” he says, and “in my experience, powder is in free fall throughout the run,” Witte says.
Pay attention to opportunities to recover heat and harness MORE RESOURCES AT WWW.PLANTSERVICES.COM
free cooling on chillers, cooling towers, boilers, and tur-
TOPIC SEARCH
bines. “We installed a 99%-efficient cogeneration system,”
DOE energy audits “DOE energy audit”
Witte says. “All the fuel and 21°F of ambient air temperature
Motor management “Working the motor maze”
went into the process. It pays for itself in two years to three
Compressed air audits “Raise your expectations”
years, depending on the cost of electricity.”
Boiler efficiency “Boiler burner modulation”
Make the invisible, visible. Take full advantage of exist-
ing power and flow metering, including untapped sources
For more, search www.PlantServices.com using the key-
such as variable-speed drives. Add temporary metering
words energy efficiency, energy audit, and energy expert.
where it makes sense, and plan to install a power moni-
toring system that lets you verify results and identify
future changes in consumption patterns, malfunctions, CLOSING IN
and deterioration. Taking down a big energy waster is rewarding, but don’t
“I always remember a particularly creative example of overlook the small stuff. Parasitic losses as small as seal
communicating the impact of energy use in a glass furnace friction can add up, and alternatives are being designed to
to the financial staff,” Garforth says. “The plant energy team reduce seal energy consumption.
attached an ultrasonic flow meter to the gas line, and instead “We developed our P/S-II seal with Gylon – a restructured
of calibrating in Gigajoules or cubic meters, they used dol- PTFE – for applications where traditional carbide seals fail
lars at the current tariff. When visitors walked past the large from heat or friction,” says Earl Rogalski, senior product
LED display showing thousands of dollars an hour going manager, Klozure products, Garlock (www.garlock.com).
into the furnace, the question as to how to slow the meter Along with slipperier materials, it uses a rotary instead of a
quickly came to the fore.” face-to-face motion to reduce friction.
Arkema’s chemical plant in Calvert City, Ky., has four boilers, positioner movement was jerky, indicating a potentially
which produce steam at slightly different pressures nad flows faulty pneumatic cylinder/piston assembly. “The positioner
because they’re different sizes and were installed at different drives weren’t operating smoothly,” explains Horton.
times. The first two, both installed in 1952, are brick-set with The team also noticed a loose hatch door near the oxygen
forced-draft intake and induced-draft fans. Both are rated at sensor that leaked air into the ductwork before the induced-
40,000 lb steam/hour (klb/hr). The third boiler, a 1965 econo- draft fan. The two boiler oxygen sensors also continued to
mizer, includes only a forced-draft fan and is rated at 75 klb/hr, read about 2% higher than a portable analyzer. “They had two
but it was typically operated at a maximum of 60 klb/hr. An oxygen analyzers that were positioned in the wrong places,
additional 1996 economizer FGR boiler was operated identically and there was leakage,” says Horton. “Plus, the analyzers
to the third. were out of calibration.”
“All four boilers produce steam at about 165 psi,” Air also was being added for an oil flow that wasn’t truly
explains Robert Horton, business manager, ABB Optimi- going into the boiler, and a furnace draft test also indicated
zation Services (www.abb.us), “but they usually don’t leakage was being sucked in by the induced-draft fan and
run all four boilers at maximum load. Boiler 2 is the one thrown out the stack as wasted power.
used most often, but it was the least efficient, so that’s “Based on the load tests, we were able to update the
where we began our focus.” air/fuel ratio,” says Horton. “The oxygen trim is that final
ABB completed a “Fingerprint” analysis of the boiler adjustment of air/fuel ratio, and the Arkema team hadn’t
operations in mid-March 2008, analyzed the collected used it for 10 years.”
data and, based on its findings, forecasted annual energy Horton’s team recommended a variety of corrections
savings of as much as $100,000 from improved combus- affecting boiler furnace pressure, oxygen settings and
tion efficiency, smoother load responses and reduced transmitters, fan positioner mechanisms, leakage, steam
induced-fan load. The Fingerprint is a four-quadrant ap- flow measurements, control logic and loop tuning. The ap-
proach that examines the state of hardware and con- proximate value in savings was $75,000 for Boiler 2 alone.
trols, the stability and operation of the boiler, combus- With other efficiency improvements across all four boilers,
tion load tests and dynamic tests for step responses. total annual plant energy savings is about $237,000, says
Boiler 2 was examined first, and Horton’s team identi- Horton. “The service cost them about $25,000/boiler, so
fied several issues for resolution. The induced-draft fan the saving was instant.”
Safety,
Protection, &
PET bottle molders that use both high-pressure and low-pressure compressed air
in blow molding operations typically exhaust residual compressed air from the
high-pressure side to the atmosphere. But as the cost for power to run the com-
Performance pressors increases, “You try to save money on compressed air in plants like
these because they can theoretically net out some big energy savings,” says Chris
Gordon, president of Blackhawk Equipment, Arvada, Colo.
• NSF ISO 21469 Certified
Three years ago, Blackhawk Equipment was introduced to a new concept in
Products recycling compressed air, the Air Recovery System (ARS). Developed by Tech-
• Complete line of Industrial noplan Engineering SA of Geneva, Switzerland, the ARS recovers compressed
Lubricants air that still has residual pressure. Gordon immediately saw that the ARS concept
could be advantageous to PET bottle production operations, so he began to
• Reduce Operating Cost work with the licensed U.S. distributor of the system, Connell Industries
www.connell-ind.com/recycling.html).
• Energy Savings
The PET molding process requires ultra-high pressures, in excess of 580 psig.
• Prolong Life of Equipment The ARS system is installed between a blow molder’s exhaust system and the plant’s
low-pressure air system, capturing, storing and returning almost 50% of the dry,
oil-free air at a pressure of 12 bar (170 psi) to the plant’s low-pressure air system.
Gordon performed pre- and post-installation measurement and verification, and
the energy savings were substantial. The total savings the ARS system generated
enables a payback period of eight to 12 months.
The potential for rebates on electric power consumption can make the payback
even more attractive. In New England, for example, where the kilowatt-hour
rates are three times those in much of the United States, the ARS system can
qualify for about one-third of the total purchase price.
“We have energy efficiency programs designed to help customers with electric
power usage to take some of the load off our system,” explains Craig Trottier, an
account executive with Public Service Co. of New Hampshire, the state’s major
electric power utility. “That helps defer the need for new investments in infrastruc-
ture. But is also helps our customers manage their energy costs better so that they
are more competitive.”
Trottier recently evaluated the rebate qualification of an ARS system installed at
Southeastern Container’s Hudson, N.H. facility, where 1.5 million PET bottles are
produced per shift for Coca-Cola, its parent company.
“The results of the ARS installation were quite surprising, even better than
projected,” Trottier says. “This is a unique system that we had never seen before,
ISO and is especially appropriate for PET bottle applications.”
“We have two ARS systems,” says John Fischer, general manager, northeast
9001:2000
region, Southeastern Container, “one on a two-liter bottle machine and one on a
KOSHER 20 oz. These are Sidel SB040s, which are big machines. The ARS systems are
taking the residual high-pressure air and regenerating about 800 cfm to the low-
CFIA
pressure side. That’s allowing our Centac compressors on the low-pressure side to
HALAL rest. We actually valve-off the low pressure feed to the machine and still continue
making good quality bottles – and that’s the test.
“The results exceeded our expectations,” Fischer adds. “Public Service of New
P.O. Box 131359
Hampshire says we’re saving at least 5 million kilowatt-hours per year, and could
Tyler, Texas 75713 possibly double that, depending on production considerations. But, in the first six
800.749.5823 months of this year, we’ve saved approximately $300,000. In fact, we’ve been able
to speed up the machines with some engineering work and software programming
SUMMIT
– so we’re actually using less electricity and yet making about 6.5% to 7% more bot-
tles than we did before. Based on that and the utility’s rebate program, the payback
period is less than a year with roughly about $400,000 invested less the rebate.”
INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS
handler that removes moisture from the continue to develop innovative technologies to best serve our valued customers.
Choose Hankison...New Products...New Ideas...Still the Best!
air independently of heating or cooling
the air, saving 35% to 60% of the refrig-
eration energy and capacity compared to
TEL: 724 | 745 | 1555
standard HVAC systems,” he says. “The Email: hankison.inquiry@spx.com
www.hankisonintl.com/kwH
Compressor
Compressor
#1#1 110
110
110
110 Compressor
Compressor
#2#2 105
105 Unload
Unload pressure
pressure
105
105 Compressor
Compressor
Pressure (psig)
Pressure (psig)
#3#3 100
100 Single
Single setset point
point control
control pressure
pressure
Pressure (psig)
100 Compressor
Pressure (psig)
100 Compressor
#4#4 9595 Load
Load pressure
pressure
9595
9090
9090
8585
8585 Production
Production minimum
minimum requirement
requirement
Production
Production minimum
minimum requirement
requirement
8080
8080
Figure 1. Cascading-pressure control operates multiple Figure 2. Networked controls can maintain tighter control over
compressors in a predetermined manner. pressure swings.
Figure 3. A smart controller is capable of coordinating the Figure 4. The ability to interconnect differing compressor styles is
performance of multiple, similar compressors having different a good reason to use a smart controller.
operating characteristics.
minimum kilowattage is online to satisfy the demand. It’s not uncommon to have every available compressor
Compressors are brought online when system pressure operating at part load because total supply-side capacity is
falls below the target pressure. However, compressors are greater than system demand. As the compressors modulate
taken off line based on system pressure and the system de- to reduce output and match the demand, the pressure bands
mand or flow. One or more flow meters collect the demand overlap. Because each compressor is modulating and reduc-
data and send it to the controller. The controller determines ing output, system pressure won’t rise, and the plant is left
which compressors to turn off and which to leave on line. with all air compressors running at part load, thus wasting
Smart controllers also take full advantage of different ca- considerable energy and increasing maintenance costs.
pacity controls on individual compressors to maintain max- By integrating a smart controller into the system, the plant’s
imum system efficiency. As a plant’s production expands, so compressed air demand is monitored along with system pres-
does demand for compressed air. Typically, the increase in sure. When plant compressed air demand decreases to a level
compressed air requirements is met by adding air compres- that can be met by the total capacity of one fewer air compres-
sors of different sizes and manufacturers. For example, in a sors, one unit will go into standby. The reduced number of
system that includes multiple rotary-screw air compressors online compressors will now operate closer to full load, thus
of different sizes and vintages, all with pneumatic modu- saving considerable energy. As demand falls further, another
lation inlet valve type control, the compressors meet the appropriately-sized compressor is taken off line; or because
system demands effectively but not efficiently (Figure 3). the smart controller is programmed with the capacity of each
compressor, a larger-capacity compressor might be taken off
more resources at www.plantservices.com line and a smaller compressor brought back on. Throughout
this process, the relatively narrow operating pressure band (2
TOPIC SEARCH
Capacity control “Finding the right match”
psi to 3 psi) reduces energy and maintenance costs associated
Control systems “Control options in rotary Trending the data
screw compressors”
Flow monitoring “Building a case for better air”
Performance “Applying the pressure”
Upgrades “Planning air system upgrades”
Controls “The rise and fall of modulation”
Controls (part 1) “5 always beats 2”
Controls (part 2) “5 always beats 2”
Energy balance “Volume equals power”
Controls “Perfect harmony”
Compressed Air Storage “Sizing to save”
Compressor Types “Dare to Compare”
Figure 5. Gain insight into compressor operations when the smart
For more, search www.PlantServices.com using the
controller displays both measured and computed key performance
keywords capacity, controller, and microprocessor.
indicators.
N obody knows a winner better than Joe Gibbs Racing. That’s why
they’ve installed Kaeser compressed air systems in their state-of-the-
art raceshop.
Reliable air is the lifeblood of Joe Gibbs’ operation – just as it is in
yours. From CNC milling centers to the fab shop and everywhere else in
your plant, Kaeser provides all the clean air you require to keep you run- &2035(66256
ning at peak performance, 24/7.
Available in any size you need, our units are engineered for easy main-
tenance and energy efficiency ... but most of all, for reliability. So, when (866) 516-6888
you want a winner, choose Kaeser. www.kaeser.com/sigma
with higher operating pressures. 4). The smart controller directs the rota- As system demand decreases, the
In another example, consider a system ry screw to run fully loaded (at its most controller continues to turn down the
with centrifugal compressors equipped energy-efficient point) and then trims centrifugal unit, reducing output until
with inlet guide vane controls and a with one of the centrifugal compressors maximum turndown is reached. If out-
rotary-screw compressor equipped with via its inlet guide vanes, maintaining put capacity is still greater than demand,
modulating inlet valve control (Figure excellent energy efficiency. the controller begins to turn down the
next centrifugal. By monitoring the
demand flow, the controller knows
whether to slightly modulate the rotary
screw compressor or completely unload
it. The load then can be supplied by one
or both of the centrifugals or completely
unload one of the centrifugals allowing
the rotary screw compressor to operate
fully loaded. Once again this is typically
achieved within a relatively narrow pres-
sure band of 2 psi to 3 psi.
Smart controllers have many addi-
tional practical capabilities, includ-
ing the ability to display the plant’s
compressed air volumetric consump-
tion rate; input power required to
produce the compressed air; system
efficiency data; peak, average, and
minimum demands throughout the
day; and equipment status and alarms
(Figure 5). A single smart controller
can control compressors in different or
remote rooms or even integrate mul-
tiple systems. Multiple plants can be
controlled by a single smart controller
through radio communication.
In addition to compressed air equip-
ment, many modern smart controllers
If tools can be used to pinch can control, as well as monitor and
trend, other equipment (chillers, pumps,
pennies...why are your tools boilers, etc.) and utilities in a plant.
Generally, compressed air systems
costing you thousands? have become more modern and plant
requirements more complex. Ad-
vanced smart controllers operate a
Ignore this message if you think you manage your tools
system reliably, provide operators with
and MRO supplies effectively. If you think you can do better
give us a call. The most comprehensive system available is the information needed to manage it
just a phone call away...888.419.1399 properly, and, above all, turn off air
compressors that aren’t required.
Because hibays, a.k.a. high bays, are the most com- enough to provide a substantial blue content without mak-
mon lighting fi xtures for industrial and warehouse build- ing the light look bluish.
ings, getting them to be energy efficient can improve your Because T5HOs have peak light output at an ambient tem-
bottom line. If you still have standard or probe-start metal perature of 95°F and T8s have peak light output at 77°F, and
halide (MH), yellow-color high-pressure sodium (HPS) or because output decreases significantly with deviations from
inefficient mercury vapor (MV) hibay lighting, especially if optimum ambient temperatures, it’s good to have a cushion.
equipped with the typical spun-aluminum domes that waste Of the three T8 options shown, option G isn’t recommended
25% of the light, you could replace them cost-effectively, re- unless the space is heated and air-conditioned or exces-
duce wattage by at least 50% and often reduce KWH by 80% sively overlit. Just because T5HOs have peak light output
if you install appropriate lighting control devices. You’ll also at a higher temperature than T8s doesn’t necessarily mean
slash maintenance parts and labor costs. T5HOs are better in hot conditions, because T8s can often
dissipate heat better in well thermally designed fi xtures.
REPLACE THEM WITH WHAT? Six high-performance replacement T8 lamps cost less
Although many lighting retrofit contractors, hibay manu- than four T5HO lamps, especially the 49-watt to 51-watt
facturers, and others push high-output, 5/8-in. diameter models. T8 lamps also last longer, especially the extra-long
fluorescent T5HO lamps, you can see in Table 1 that high- life versions. Plus, these are the same T8s that can be used
performance, 1-in. diameter T8s are much more efficacious, in offices and other parts of the building, which can help
the lighting industry term for efficient. The green columns minimize lamp and ballast inventories. If you decide to go
are the most important. with T8 hibays, it’s important to get the correct lamps, bal-
If you want to get technical, end-of-life (EOL) lumens lasts, and fi xtures.
are much more important than initial or mean lumens, There are two good choices for 5,000°K T8 lamps. One is
because EOL is the worst case. The higher the scotopic/ lamps with the highest lumen output included in the Con-
photopic (S/P) ratio, the more blue content the light has and sortium of Energy Efficiency’s 32-watt high-performance
the brighter the light to the human eye. Visually-effective listing at www.cee1.org. Many rebate programs mandate
lumens include effects of S/P ratios. The listed fluorescent using these approved lamps. The other good choice is extra-
lamps are 850s, which are rated at 5,000°Kelvin, a value high long-life lamps, which produce fewer lumens, but last longer.
Notes
•BF stands for ballast factor, EOL stands for end of life and CRI stands for color rendering index. Daylight and incandescents are
considered to have a perfect 100 CRI.
• Fluorescent lamp lumens are based on optimal temperatures and can be adjusted with lumen/temp tables provided by manufacturers.
• HID have magnetic ballasts. Fluorescents have extra-efficient program start electronic ballasts.
• S/P is scotopic/photopic. Light with more blue content has higher S/P ratios and is perceived as brighter by the human eye.
• End-of-life luminaire visually-effective lumens = End-of-life lamp luminaire lumens x (S/P)0.78 [0.78 exponent]
• Prepared by Stan Walerczyk of Lighting Wizards www.lightingwizards.com 12/2/09 version
and heat-sensitive. Sometimes restrike times are consider- piece of Chiclets gum and provides 24,000 initial lumens.
ably shorter than probe start MH, but still too long for on/ Because it takes some time for efficacy to improve and price
off occupancy sensors. to come down, this option isn’t ready for prime time yet.
An induction lamp is a fluorescent lamp without cath-
odes, so there’s really nothing to wear out. An electronic Niche applications
generator, which is similar to a microwave oven, drives the For very hot applications, pulse-start quartz or ceramic MH
lamp. Lamp and generator life is rated at 100,000 hours. In- lamps, magnetic ballasts, and high-performance domes can
duction systems can work well with occupancy sensors and be the best solution. For 1,000 W MH and HPS in over 50-ft
other controls and are vibration-resistant. The CRI is about high applications, pulse-start quartz or ceramic MH lamps,
80 and ratings as high as 5,000°K are available. Induction electronic or magnetic ballasts and high-performance domes
lamps have been available for more than 10 years. The major are usually a lot easier to install than 8-ft. hibays filled with a
disadvantages are poor lumens-per-watt and high cost. Two dozen T8s or eight T5HOs. For subzero cold storage applica-
of the three major lamp manufacturers provide high-watt- tions, induction or LEDs often are the best solutions. The LED’s
age induction systems. I tend to avoid some Chinese and lumens-per-watt rating improves in cold applications. With
Korean versions because of warranty, replacement parts, and long lives and resistance to vibration, induction lamps and
long-term support concerns. LEDs can work very well in places that are difficult to access
LEDs are light-emitting diodes, a technology rapidly and in high-maintenance applications.
advancing with lumens per watt increasing at about 20%
per year and pricing dropping by about 20% per year. But Stan Walerczyk, CLEP, LC, is principal of Lighting Wizards, an
LEDs are still expensive. The rated life for LEDs and their independent energy-efficient lighting consulting firm in Walnut
drivers can range from 50,000 hr. to 150,000 hr. LEDs also Creek, Calif. Contact him at (925) 944-9481, stan@lightingwiz-
work well with occupancy sensors and other controls. They ards.com and www.lightingwizards.com.
• DVDs or material downloaded from the Web. These are more resources at www.plantservices.com
typically self-guided and self-study programs generally TOPIC SEARCH
geared for the knowledgeable I&C person who needs Tuning pH loops “Neutralize pH control
training in a very specific area. system instabilities”
• Online Web-based courses with a teacher available to Automation system flaws “Outwit control system gremlins”
answer questions the students submit through e-mail I&C options “Engineer a flexible facility”
at any time, or through a virtual classroom on a weekly Green degrees “Interest grows in energy
basis generally set in the evening for an hour or so. The education”
instructor typically answers within a day or two. Technical education “Critical steps”
Smart instruments “Smarter PdM”
Online has limitations Teaching maintenance “Education can unlock
I’ve successfully instructed “face-to-face” I&C courses for the crisis”
more than 10 years in many industrial plants, at ISA func-
tions, and at several North American universities includ- For more, search www.PlantServices.com using the
ing the University of Wisconsin, the University of Kansas, keywords education, learning, and training.
the University of Toronto, and Dalhousie University.
Recently, I started online training at two North American The three modules could include the basic concepts, the
universities. At the beginning, I was hesitant about the po- engineering, and the installation of I&C equipment. The
tential effectiveness and success of online training. How- spread over one year allows students to apply and practice
ever, I have now changed my mind. In addition to avoiding some of the information learned on a gradual basis. It also
the effects of cost and time lost away from the workplace, avoids information overload for students.
online training has proven to be effective for the students. Each module should require about two months to complete
Online I&C training, when accompanied by good quality and include its own online quizzes, followed by an online
course notes, quizzes, and exams, provides students with exam. I’ve found through personal experience that the follow-
the knowledge and confidence needed to grasp this field of ing distribution balances time and learned information:
technology. These I&C programs are applicable to technical • Module 1 starting in the fall (typically early October) to
and supervisory personnel. For such courses to be effective, follow the summer vacation time
it’s presumed that participants come from a setting in which • Module 2 starting in January of the following year
they can apply the knowledge learned. • Module 3 starting in May (avoiding the March break
Online learning can replace many face-to-face courses, period) and finishing before the July vacation time
but not all. On the plus side, online learning provides cost It’s my opinion that the three modules should include a
savings and allows student to study at their own pace with- variety of topics scheduled in a logical sequence covering the
out leaving their day-to-day job. On the negative side, the field of I&C. This would include:
• The basics of I&C including the different control func-
tions, the types of control loops, and continuous vs.
Online learning can replace many
discrete control
face-to-face courses – but not all. • The identification and symbols used in I&C
• The different types of field instrumentation, their prin-
teacher-student interaction is slightly reduced (but is still ciple of operation, the advantages and disadvantages,
available through either audio or written communication). and the application of the different types of sensors for
In addition, online learning can’t provide hands-on training flow , level, pressure, and temperature measurements as
such as instrument maintenance. Dedicated training facili- well as for control valves
ties provide such training, often at a vendor facility. • The requirements for control rooms and the design of
control panels
Details and course content • The concepts and implementation of alarm and trip
A typical and complete I&C online course could be presented systems
in three modules spread over a year. It would cover the different • The different types of computer-based control systems
phases of I&C, preferably from a nonmathematical, practical including PLCs and DCSs as well as review the basic
point of view. Including theory such as Laplace Transform, requirements for good operator interface
Bode Plots and the like in an I&C practical course has little • The documentation required for I&C, for front-end
value in day-to-day plant operation. And speaking from per- engineering and for detail design
sonal experience, this type of theoretical information would be • The requirements for a successful installation, instru-
forgotten shortly after the course is completed. ment checkout, and controller tuning
What’s It to Ya?
Acme’s harassment policy comes front and center
management stood. However, the question of sexual prefer- origin. For Tess to have a viable discrimination claim, she
ence was never raised (although it was known). Moreover, should have to show that Acme treated someone who wasn’t
she was never asked to engage in any religious activities. of her race or color or who was male or not of her religion or
She loved working at the company and the company was national origin more favorably when that person engaged in
frequently cited as one of the best places to work in the area. an act of harassment.
It appears that Acme didn’t follow the same approach as Acme acted just as it should have acted with respect to
my student’s company. A company certainly has the right Tess. She engaged in harassment toward Ivana, both because
to declare its religious nature, and also to sponsor religious of Ivana’s sexual preference and her religious beliefs. Tess’
activities, such as prayer meetings. However, none of this actions created a hostile work environment for Ivana who
became extremely uncomfortable never knowing when Tess
The time to raise objections would start her daily harangue. And praying with her at
work, for heaven’s sake? Most people would be uncomfort-
to workplace interactions is when
able under these working conditions.
the interaction is taking place Tess engaged in unlawful harassment that surely violated
Acme’s harassment policy. She should have been fired, and
she was. Hurray for Acme.
can be any part of the hiring, or promotion, or assignment, Julie Badel, partner, Epstein Becker & Green, P.C.
or firing process. Nor can a supervisor attempt to convert (312) 499-1418, jbadel@ebglaw.com
an employee to the supervisor’s religious viewpoints. Thus,
in my opinion, Tess’ behavior was harassment and she cer- A plant engineer says:
tainly produced a hostile work environment. Ivana should have expressed her feelings about Tess’s invita-
There are a couple of ways that this could have been avoided. tions sooner. From what we read about this situation, Ivana
The first is through training of supervisors (and others). The never asked Tess, in any way, to back off. Tess believed she
fact that Acme is openly religiously oriented should have raised was doing Ivana a great service by trying to reach out to her.
a few red flags in Human Resources, and supervisors and If Ivana felt differently about Tess’s actions, she should have
employees should be briefed as to what one can and can’t do in spoken up earlier. The time to raise objections to work-
such an organization. Clearly, Tess’ behavior would have been place interactions is when the interaction is taking place, or
something the briefing would have warned people not to do. right after, not during an exit interview. If Ivana was truly
Also, Ivana should have told Tess that her behavior was concerned for her job as a reason not to speak up sooner,
unwanted and inappropriate and, if it continued, HR would then she had no understanding of the company’s harassment
hear about it. If Ivana felt too threatened to do so, I’m sure policy or faith the company would act upon it.
plenty of other people who knew about it could have stepped Every company should have a functional, enforced harass-
forward. Finally, Acme was within its rights and responsi- ment policy. The only way it gets enforced is when someone
bilities to investigate and adjudicate Ivana’s complaint. To do steps forward and reports harassment. That didn’t hap-
otherwise would be irresponsible and probably illegal. pen here and shame on Acme for terminating Tess. Ivana
Professor Homer H. Johnson, Ph.D., Loyola University Chicago should be the one reprimanded. If she believed she was
(312) 915-6682, hjohnso@luc.edu being harassed and didn’t report it, that’s like not following
proper safety procedures. Procedures and policies work only
An attorney says: when they’re followed. When employees don’t follow proper
And so, what exactly is Tess suing for? What discrimination procedure, they normally receive a write-up that helps them
is she alleging? Unless she can show Acme treated another understand how important proper procedures are to the
employee who engaged in harassment and who isn’t in some long-term health of the employee and the company.
legally protected group, of which Tess is a member, more The question in the workplace isn’t whether prayer should
favorably, Tess is not going to get past the courthouse door. be permitted, for you can’t stop it. The question, rather, is
“Discrimination” is an oft-flaunted word. If one decides whether one employee can force another to participate in
to eat a hamburger instead of a tuna sandwich, one has “dis- prayer. The answer is no, you shouldn’t try to force someone
criminated” against tuna — but this doesn’t meet the legal to pray in the workplace or anywhere else. Forced prayer
definition of discrimination. The federal discrimination really isn’t genuine prayer.
laws protect employees from discrimination on the basis Jeffrey L. Strasser, Bacova Guild
of race, color, gender, disability, age, religion, and national (540) 863-2656, Strasser.Jeff@bacova.com
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energy expert
peter garforth
More than 200 heads of state attended the UN climate to fund as much as $100 billion for technology transfer to
meeting in Copenhagen in December. Through 2009, there accelerate the development of low-carbon economies and
had been strong expectations that a global deal on emissions adaptation measures in the developing world. Brazil and
reductions would be struck, which triggered a high level of Norway proposed an international fund to support defores-
lobbying from every side of the debate. Let’s take a step back tation reductions in developing countries.
and see what actually came out of Copenhagen. The next UN Climate Conference will be in Mexico in
There was no binding agreement to reduce emissions. De- November. There is a growing sense that this meeting will
veloped countries proposed targets that could limit climate deliver a binding agreement, based on the general outcomes
change to an average of two degrees Celsius. Some devel- of Copenhagen. For the United States, this will mean targets
at least equal to the levels already proposed in the various
China isn’t overlooking the versions of legislation wending their way through the House
and the Senate, with significant consequences for both
potential world market for
power generators and large energy-consuming industries.
energy-efficient solutions and The EU already is committed to 20% below 1990 lev-
climate-friendly products. els, but has agreed to 30% if other major emitters, notably
China, the United States, India, and Brazil, make mean-
ingful commitments. This higher level will mean radical
oped countries made this commitment conditional on major rethinking of everything from building codes to energy sup-
developing countries, notably China, India, and Brazil, ply. While challenging domestically, the EU’s overall climate
agreeing to accept binding targets. This wasn’t forthcom- policy is acting as a catalyst for some world-class businesses.
ing, though China did, for the first time, suggest it would be China remains an interesting case. Following Copenha-
prepared to accept binding intensity targets. gen, China was criticized by many as being a major barrier
The dialogue between the developed and developing to a deal. But in the same month, it established some of the
countries was further complicated by the developing coun- most ambitious renewable energy standards anywhere in the
tries most vulnerable to climate change pushing to limit world, backed by strong domestic policy. The need to grow
temperature rise to 1.5 degrees. This standoff ended with the with far less pollution is becoming clearer to the Chinese,
developed countries, including the United States, agreeing and they aren’t overlooking the potential world market for
to submit their firm emissions targets no later than the end energy-efficient solutions and climate-friendly products.
of January. The two-degree limit would call for reductions of In December, I visited the headquarters of three major
25% to 40% relative to 1990 by 2020, a level deeper than any companies in cement, chemicals, and steel as part of a
proposed at Copenhagen; the estimate of current pledges benchmarking exercise. Their organizations now have senior
yields about a three-degree increase, so there’s a large gap. managers with titles like “Head of Corporate Ecology” and
China and the United States specifically agreed to inter- “Chief Climate Protection Officer.” This is a clear sign of the
nally measure and report on the results of their mitigation importance world-leading companies are attaching to man-
actions. Some interpret this as a breakthrough in that it aging climate change, legislation and market opportunities.
represents a first step in reporting and ultimate verification. While Copenhagen didn’t deliver the binding deal many
Others saw it as a weak compromise, with limited account- hoped, it was the first meeting for a long time where nearly
ability for the two major global emitters. While agreeing all the countries of the world, mostly represented by their
to the overall conference summary, the smaller developing heads of state, agreed on the need and the urgency for a deal.
countries remained skeptical that there would be sufficient We all need to be adapting our work priorities to recognize
commitment to even the two-degree target, which they the changes this may bring.
already deemed too high for comfort.
Their concerns were mitigated somewhat when the devel- Peter Garforth is principal of Garforth International LLC, Toledo,
oped countries, again including the United States, agreed Ohio. He can be reached at peter@garforthint.com.
CW
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CCCC
Master Work Planning & Execution Work History Analysis Expert
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