ELECTRICAL
Variable Frequency Drives: An Energy Saver
Feb 4, 2010 - 11:56:50 AM

Image courtesy of Siemens

Is the energy bill at your facility too high?

Are you actively searching for cost savings?

Do you have applications were the motor runs at full speed and the volume/flow is controlled by a valve or damper?

If you answered yes to any of the questions above, there is a solution. Electric driven loads represent almost two thirds of the industrial electric power demand. (Jump to American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.)

The bad news: As energy costs continue to increase, this cost factor always has a negative impact on production costs.

Image courtesy of Yaskawa

The good news: For almost every company, this represents enormous cost-saving potential that is presently not being tapped into. Especially in energy-intensive sectors, up to 70% of the energy used can be saved.

Flow machines such as pumps, fans, and compressors typically run at 100% of rated speed, delivering a maximum rate, which is rarely required. The application of a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) can save a considerable amount of energy, often paying for the investment in a matter of months.

Today, most facility managers and owners are looking for answers to the question: Where is the highest cost-saving potential? And for most companies the single biggest (non-payroll) expense is electricity.

Changing over to energy-efficient drive technology gives you an immediate payback, especially:

• in industry sectors that use a lot of energy
• for mechanically controlled machines such as pumps, fans or compressors
• for drives that operate for long periods of time
• drives that frequently run in partial load operation
• applications where the drive must be repeatedly braked

It is especially important to consider lifecycle costs in selecting the optimum drive technology. Operating costs are especially high when compared to the original purchase price. For example, 97% of the lifecycle costs of a motor occur in operation. And of this 97%, energy costs are frequently by far the highest cost factor. Here an enormous cost-saving potential is waiting to be tapped into.

VFD Cost Savings Example

IBT represents two premier manufactures of Variable Frequency Drives: Siemens and Yaskawa. Call your local sales representative for additional information or to schedule an Energy Savings Audit at your facility.

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) provides funding opportunities for states and industry to improve efficiency and reduce emissions. To learn more about these opportunities and awards, see details here.