Customer: Major Electricity Generator Client
In today's economy, energy efficiency - or, more accurately, the lack of it - is a hotly debated topic that incites passions in companies and consumers alike. Despite the high profile, one point that often evades the spotlight is the amount of energy actually required to produce the world's electricity supplies.
Those who generate the power, however, are acutely aware of the requirements. They know that to control costs and preserve the quality and value of their product, the processes for generating and distributing energy must be as efficient and streamlines as possible.
To improve the efficiency and profitability of its operation, one major European electricity provider deployed a solutions centered on Eurotherm's proven EPower controller technology.
Efficiency in Action
The EPower controller was installed on a heat treatment furnace at the client's site. In this application, EPower manages the heating elements and regulates power input across the combustion process, combining improved communications and data accuracy with real-time networking and load analysis.
The EPower controller sends live furnace-load and network data directly to the control room, enabling operators to modify their process strategy immediately in accordance with the incoming data feed. Changes made to the control type, firing mode and load configuration all facilitate improved process efficiency.
Lower costs, Increased Efficiency and Safety
Through sophisticated sharing and shedding techniques, EPower's Predictive Load Management capability enabled this provider to reduce facility-wide energy costs by providing more efficient distribution across a variety of loads and conditions. Buy preventing overshoot of nominal power. EPower enables them to stay within their contract limits.
Additionally, the customer is avoiding tariffs that could be assessed if stringent government emissions tolerance requirement are not met consistently. The solutions enables accurate record-keeping that provides proof of the provider's compliance. Without these reports, the operation would be in danger of being shut down.
EPower's ability to continually and accurately predict, monitor and adjust to demand is creating more efficient energy production and distribution for the customer. Company executives estimate that the solutions will reduce energy costs by improving overall process efficiency by as much as 10%. And because no electrical parts were ever exposed, the configuration also offered a secondary safety benefit, especially to untrained personnel.
