Industrial Newsbriefs

October 2013

Welcome to this edition of Industrial Newsbriefs, produced by the Washington State University Extension Energy Program. Please forward this issue to those of your colleagues interested in industrial energy efficiency. View archive 

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

Applications Now Being Accepted for the 2nd Annual Washington Industrial Energy Leaders Awards!

All manufacturers located within Washington State are eligible, and anyone may submit a nomination (utilities, state agencies, consultants, vendors, energy efficiency organizations, or industry directly). Last year, award recipients were honored by the Governor at a special ceremony. This year’s gala event is scheduled for December 10, 2013 at the Washington State Capitol, and Governor Jay Inslee is scheduled to present the awards and take pictures with the winners.

This is an outstanding opportunity for our state’s manufacturers to be recognized for their innovative energy achievements over the past two years. So get your applications in today. The deadline for submitting is November 22, 2013! For more information, visit the WIEL website, and good luck!

COMPRESSED AIR

Compressed Air Best Practices

The October 2013 issue of Compressed Air Best Practices is now available for download; this issue’s focus is Food Processing. Article topics include the influence of system pressure on compressed air demand; case studies of compressed air demand reduction at a brewery and a food processing facility; heat recovery from industrial compressed air systems; and more.

ENERGY EFFICENCY & ENERGY MANAGEMENT

Coors Brewery goes landfill-free

The Coors Brewery in Golden, Colorado, recently joined four other breweries owned by MillerCoors in becoming landfill-free. As recently as two years ago, the plant was transporting 135 tons of waste to landfills each month. Through careful investment, employee participation, and a commitment to waste reduction, virtually all of the plant’s waste is now reused, recycled, or processed in a waste-to-energy plant. Read more in “Nation’s Largest Brewery Goes Landfill-Free,” published October 18, 2013, at SustainablePlant.com.

Energy-saving curtain walls

Five Ways to Save Energy with Curtain Walls” was published October 11, 2013, at SustainablePlant.com. This article describes how non-permanent fabric curtain walls can be used to save energy in industrial plants. Five different applications are briefly described.

Intelligent efficiency

A new report published in October 2013 by ACEEE, “Intelligent Efficiency: Opportunities, Barriers, and Solutions,” describes how information technology and computing can increase and expand opportunities for energy efficiency through precise sensing, control, and analysis. The applications are broad and can be integrated across multiple sectors, including manufacturing.

IEA releases Energy Efficiency Market Report

The International Energy Agency (IEA) released its first annual Energy Efficiency Market Report in October 2013 (Fee required; summary and illustrations freely available). The report presents an analysis of the energy efficiency marketplace, and estimates that efficiency measures implemented by member countries in 2010 alone saved more energy than the output of any other single fuel source. “IEA Declares Energy Efficiency World’s First Fuel,” published October 17, 2013, at PVTech.com, details some of the report’s findings.

Energy management methodologies for industrial facilities

The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) recently contracted with EnerNOC Utility Solutions to develop a six-step process to help facilities effectively monitor and manage energy performance. The resulting report, Energy Baseline Methodologies for Industrial Facilities, was published October 17, 2013.

HVAC/R

Certification for industrial refrigeration energy specialists

Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) and the Refrigerating Engineers & Technicians Association (RETA) recently partnered to develop an energy efficiency certification for industrial refrigeration operators in the Pacific Northwest. The Certified Refrigeration Energy Specialist (CRES) training gives refrigeration operators, technicians, managers, and other refrigeration professionals the skills and capabilities they need to optimize the energy efficiency of their plants, discover low- and no-cost savings, gain a competitive edge, and differentiate themselves in the marketplace. To learn more, read the October 29, 2013, press release.

PLANT MAINTENANCE

The following two articles appeared in the September 2013 issue of Maintenance Technology:

  1. "Fouled Heat Exchangers? Try Electronic Water Treatment,” by staff, explains what fouling is, how it occurs, what it negatively affects (energy efficiency, for one), and what to do about it.
  2. "Moisture Protection of Electronics” was written by Cody Hostick of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. He presents Best Practices associated with accomplishing the task of keeping electronics dry.

POLICY AND LEGISLATION

ACEEE recommendations for emissions from existing power plants

In September 2013, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed limits on carbon dioxide emissions from newly constructed power plants. By June 1, 2014, the EPA must propose a new rule to limit emissions from existing power plants. “Trailblazing Without the Smog: Incorporating Energy Efficiency into Greenhouse Gas Limits for Existing Power Plants,” published October 11, 2013 by ACEEE, makes recommendations for the design of this rule.

Seven new CHP centers launched, including one in Washington State

On October 21, 2013, the U.S. Energy Department announced the launch of seven new regional Combined Heat and Power Technical Assistance Partnerships in California, Colorado, Illinois, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Washington State. Each partnership will act as a regional hub to encourage and promote CHP in the commercial, institutional, industrial, government, and utility sectors. To learn more, read the press release at Energy.gov.

PUMPS

Pump systems primer

Pump Retrofits and Upgrades,” by Carol Brzozowski, was published in the September 2013 issue of Water Efficiency. Water-pumping accounts for 90% of the electric energy used at water utilities. Since older pump/motors meet efficiencies of only 60-65% while newer ones can be up to 85% efficient, it becomes crucial to keep older pumps properly maintained and to replace them when appropriate. There are cost-effective ways to optimize older pumping systems, and the U.S. Energy Department has programs for industrial plants to help in this area. The Energy Department’s Superior Energy Performance program and its Pumping System Assessment Tool (PSAT) are discussed. Further, the author describes newer challenges to pumping systems in this information-rich article.

The following four articles were carried in the September 2013 issue of Pumps & Systems:

  1. Color-Coding Systems Establish Best Practice,” by Patrick Fasse, Fluid Defense, describes the advantages of well-designed, color-coded lubrication systems and cautions against inadequate ones.
  2. Magnetic Drive Pumps Versus Canned Motor Pumps,” by Guillermo Bueno, M PUMPS S.R.L., describes the differences between the two systems, and explains why the differences have narrowed in recent years due to technological advances.
  3. The Revised API 682 Mechanical Seal Standard” was authored by Thomas Böhm and Markus Fries, both of EagleBurgmann. The revisions are carefully described in this valuable piece.
  4. The Smart Pump Market” was written by Anand Gnanamoorthy & Laurel Donoho, both of Frost & Sullivan. The expanded use of the integrated-chip has improved the intelligence of pumping systems. The authors describe the changes that have resulted, the problem of the lack of standards for devices and software, and the path that smart pumping will likely take in the near future.

UPCOMING EVENTS AND TRAININGS

Pacific Northwest

Pump System Assessment Tool (PSAT)
CANCELLED: This event has been cancelled due to low registration.
November 5th, 2013, Yakima, Washington
Registration deadline: October 22

Developed for plant engineering and operations staff, this course discusses performance problems encountered in everyday applications. The workshop covers practical issues involved in field measurements of fluid and electrical data and presents the Pump System Assessment Tool (PSAT), used to assess the performance of pump systems. Learn how the software functions, what data is required, how to use the software when measured data is not available, and what the assessment results mean. After completing this course, you will understand how to use PSAT to actively determine the best configuration for your pump system in order to achieve optimal energy and cost savings.

NW Clean & Affordable Energy Conference
November 8-9, 2013, Seattle, Washington

Please join us this fall at the NW Energy Coalition’s NW Clean & Affordable Energy Conference in Seattle November 8 – 9. Energy experts from across the Northwest will address some of the region’s most pressing energy issues. The conference will focus on the changing role of electric utilities. Panels and speakers will examine how utilities might adjust their service models and business strategies to thrive as part of the growing clean energy economy.

Introduction to Strategic Energy Management
CANCELLED: This event has been cancelled due to low registration.
November 12th, 2013, Hermiston, Oregon
Registration Deadline: October 29

Gain the basic tools that every company needs to manage energy as a controllable cost. Understand energy management as a systematic approach to monitor, control, and conserve energy, and learn how energy management is integral to reducing operating costs. You will leave this training with information that will help you effectively implement an energy management system at your company.

Pumping System Optimization
December 10, 2013, Bend, Oregon

Did you know that the average pumping system efficiency is 40% or less? When pumping systems are not optimized for best efficiency, they will drain your company’s profitably with higher energy and maintenance costs, shorter mean time between repairs, more CO2 emissions and a less reliable system overall. The course will show how the variable speed drive can save additional power by slowing down the pump speed, which will save energy and reduce cost in the process. With the system running more efficiently, maintenance and operating costs will go down and the mean time between repairs will improve.

6th Annual NW Energy Efficiency Summit
January 15, 2014, Portland, Oregon

The NW Industrial Energy Efficiency Summit is the region's premier gathering of industries and energy interests working to advance northwest industrial competitiveness through energy efficiency. Presentations will include practical applications of energy efficient technologies in both electricity and natural gas. Energy experts and industry peers will discuss real-life energy savings success stories and challenges. In breakout sessions, attendees will gain hands-on experience and instruction on the use of data loggers to measure energy use or opportunities to talk one-on-one with energy program providers about training, services, and incentives that can help them save energy. Attendees will also engage in small group discussions on selected topics.

Webinars and Online Courses

WEBINAR: Energy Management Opportunities for Industrial Customers
November 19, 2013, 9:00 –10:00 AM PST

Find and eliminate energy waste in your facility. This webinar on industrial energy efficiency will cover the basics, including kW versus kWh, power factor and more. We will also discuss end-use technologies such as motors, boiler or furnace heating systems, compressed air, industrial heat pumps, induction heating and HVAC. You will learn to identify top energy-efficiency opportunities and potential savings for each—valuable information that will help you stay within your energy budget. This webinar is coordinated by the NEEA NW Regional Industrial Training project and is sponsored by Bonneville Power Administration, Washington State University Energy Program, and Northwest Food Processors Association.

WEBINAR: Improve Power Factor at Your Facility
December 17, 2013, 9:00 –10:00 AM PST

Find answers to common questions about this pesky power problem. Discussions about power factor tend to evoke a lot of questions. This webinar will address a number those questions, including: What is power factor and how does it differ from load factor? What causes power factor and how do you improve it? What are the downsides to improving power factor? What is the cost of power factor correction? Become more comfortable addressing power factor problems and learn of ways to decrease your power factor utility charge by attending this webinar. This webinar is coordinated by the NEEA NW Regional Industrial Training project and is sponsored by Bonneville Power Administration, Washington State University Energy Program, and Northwest Food Processors Association.

MORE TRAININGS IN INDUSTRIAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY

For a listing of other upcoming industrial energy efficiency trainings, visit the following websites:

Energy Events Calendar

Northwest Regional Training Calendar

U.S. Department of Energy Industrial Best Practices Training Calendar

Input Requested: Is there something else you would like to see in Industrial Newsbriefs?
If you have thoughts or ideas for what you would like to see in this publication, please email suggestions to Talia Mathews at MathewsT@energy.wsu.edu . We strive to keep this publication as useful and relevant as possible to you, our readers.


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