FAQ
Q: Why should I pay Ene-Serv Consultants for this "project design" work?
Q: How good a return will I see if I invest in your project?
Q: What are these "other" savings you mention?
Q: By changing lights won't I save on Energy?
Q: IS there any way I can figure exactly how much I can save?
Q: Do you always have to spend money to save on Energy?
Q: I am do it yourself kind of guy why should I pay you?
Q: Why should I pay EneServ Consultants for this "project design" work?
A: Approximately 40% to 50% of our project design effort is invested on-site, inside your facility, gathering data and performing the testing required to model your operating electrical system. Then, once this information has been gathered and turned into a complete site report, it is forwarded to our technical support staff for further evaluation. This is where the real work is done.
The technical staff applies sophisticated statistical modeling and prediction techniques to every load and circuit within your facility with one goal: to reduce the reactive and harmonic current and the kilowatt power consumption demanded by your building's operation. We apply the financial criteria you provide to making load by load and circuit by circuit decisions and possible electrical treatments. Then, each possible treatment is adjusted to exactly match your system's unique electrical requirements, and the total package of recommended treatments for your project is aggregated into one simple to understand financial projection for your consideration and approval.
The real value of all this information is that it can be a blueprint for customizing your own electrical system into a more efficient and less costly part of your business.
Q: How good a return will I see if I invest in your project?
A: What if we could reduce your electricity bill by 80%? Wouldn't that be great? But, if it took twenty years for this savings amount to reimburse you for the cost of our work it wouldn't be worth it. What if we could reduce your electricity bill by 3%, but the savings paid for the cost of the work in six months? That would be worth it. Depending on the conditions of your electrical system, the mix of equipment, lighting, air conditioning you have, your normal hours of operation, and a variety of power quality issues, we could see project design results in your facility of from 2% to 35% savings, with payback periods of from 10 months to 100 months. Typically, the range is narrower, at from 5% to 20%, and with paybacks under 60 months. Several power quality issues can extend the payback period.
Q: What are these "other" savings you mention?
A: Motors run cooler. Light bulbs and ballasts run cooler. Transformers, panels, lighting switchgear, breakers, starters, controls and wiring all run cooler. SCRs, diode arrays, switching transistors and microprocessors all run cooler. Switching power supplies are more stable. Process and production controls are more accurate and reliable. Air conditioning and refrigeration is more effective and reliable. In-house and outside maintenance and repair labor costs decrease. Equipment and maintenance costs decrease. Light bulb and ballast replacement costs decrease. Costs to production process downtime are decreased. Computer data is more secure and safe. Computer operation is more reliable and stable. Communications systems are more reliable and clear of problems. PC screens stop flickering. Lights stop flickering. Circuit breakers stop tripping. PLCs and other automated controls stop malfunctioning.
OK. I've heard a lot about this power factor stuff. What exactly is it? We hope to give you an easy explanation of what power factor is, and to answer the following most asked questions:
- Question #1: What is Power Factor?
- Question #2: What Causes Low Power Factor?
- Question #3: Why Should I Improve My Power Factor?
To understand power factor, we will first start with the definition of some basic terms:
KW is Working Power (also called Actual Power or Active Power or Real Power). It is the power that actually powers the equipment and performs useful work. KVAR is Reactive Power. It is the power that magnetic equipment (transformer, motor and relay) needs to produce the magnetizing flux. KVA is Apparent Power.
It is the "vectorial summation" of KVAR and KW. Let's look at a simple analogy in order to better understand these terms.... Let's say you are at the ballpark and it is a really hot day. You order up a mug of your favorite brewsky is represented by KW (Figure 1). Unfortunately, life isn't perfect. Along with your ale comes a little bit of foam. (And let's face it...that foam just doesn't quench your thirst.) This foam is represented by KVAR. The total contents of your mug, KVA, is this summation of KW (the beer) and KVAR (the foam).
So, now that we understand some basic terms, we are ready to learn about power factor:
Power Factor (P.F.) is the ratio of Working Power to Apparent Power.
PF = KW/KVA
Looking at our beer mug analogy above, power factor would be the ratio of beer (KW) to beer plus foam or (KVA)
PF= KW/KW+ KVAR
Looking at our Beer analogy
Beer Pitcher= Beer/Beer+Foam
The more foam you have (the higher the percentage of KVAR), the lower your ratio of KW (beer) to KVA (beer plus foam). Thus, the lower your power factor, the less foam you have (the lower the percentage of KVAR), the higher your ratio of KW (beer) to KVA (beer plus foam). In fact, as your foam (or KVAR) approaches zero, your power factor approaches 1.0.
Our beer mug analogy is a bit simplistic. In reality, when we calculate KVA, we must determine the "vectorial summation" of KVAR and KW.
Cause of Low Power Factor
Low power factor is caused by inductive loads (such as transformers, electric motors, and high-intensity discharge lighting), which are a major portion of the power consumed in industrial complexes. Unlike resistive loads that create heat by consuming kilowatts, inductive loads require the current to create a magnetic field, and the magnetic field produces the desired work. The total or apparent power required by an inductive device is a composite of the following:
- Real power (measured in kilowatts, KW)
- Reactive power, the nonworking power caused by the magnetizing current, required to operate the device (measured in kilovars, KVAR) Reactive power required by inductive loads increases the amount of apparent power (measured in kilovolt amps, KVA) in your distribution system. The increase in reactive and apparent power causes the power factor to decrease.
Why Improve Your Power Factor?
Some of the benefits of improving your power factor are as follows:
- Your utility bill will be smaller. Low power factor requires an increase in the electric utility's generation and transmission capacity to handle the reactive power component caused by inductive loads. Utilities usually charge a penalty fee to customers with power factors less than 0.95. You can avoid this additional fee by increasing your power factor.
- Your electrical system's branch capacity will increase. Uncorrected power factor will cause power losses in your distribution system. You may experience voltage drops as power losses increase. Excessive voltage drops can cause overheating and premature failure of motors and other inductive equipment.
Q. By changing lights won't I save on Energy?
The straight answer is yes. However there are strategies that allow you to reduce energy costs, have adequate lighting and have the lights when needed. However if lights is not the biggest consumer of electricity in your facility you could have used those financial resources to get a greater bang for the buck. That's where Energy Audits come in handy as it gives you a road map to effectively utilize your financial resources.
Q. Is there any way I can figure exactly how much I can save?
Electricity is nothing but Physics and Math and it is a concrete science. Given the right input and methodology you can calculate exact consumption and savings.
Q. Do you always have to spend money to save on Energy?
In almost all cases you have to spend money upfront to save money however there are Subsidies and tax credits that help you out. In addition we also look at business processes and sometimes understanding your billing and altering processes you may be able to save money.
Q. I am do it yourself kind of guy why should I pay you?
You still need a road map to figure out where your consumption and savings are. You also need to know where to look and get optimal savings. We can help you plan it out and then you can do the implementation part yourself.