Unit 3: Energy Conservation

Energy conservation

• Energy conservation is reduction in energy consumption without any sacrifice of quality

• Principles of Energy conservation –

– minimum energy usage,

– increase in energy efficiency,

– reduced energy wastage,

– justful use of high grade energy

– use of alternate fuels

– Recycling of waste

– Modernisation of technology

– Waste heat utilization

– Cogeneration

– Daylight saving time

Scope of Energy conservation:

 The gap between supply and demand of energy is continuously increasing.

 Generation of Power results in environment issues like global warming, pollution, etc.

 India has to spend huge foreign exchange reserves on oil imports.

 The gap between supply and demand of energy can be bridged with the help of energy
conservation.

 The energy conservation is cost effective with a short payback period and modest
investment.

 There is a good scope of energy conservation in various sectors, viz., industry,

 The energy audit finds likely areas of energy conservation.

 Government plans to avail incentives on energy conservation measures.

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  The planners have started appreciating the role and significance of energy conservation in
future energy scenario of India.

Benefits of Energy conservation:

1. Reduces energy consumption bill/ cost.

2. It reduces maintenance costs.

3. It saves energy resources.

4. For India, it saves foreign currency.

5. It reduces ill effects on environment like global temperature rise, acid rain, pollution, etc.

6. Helps in equal distribution of power to all.

7. It reduces cost of power generation.

Principles of Energy conservation:

1. Maximum Energy Efficiency

It is defined as the maximum possible work output obtained by supplying the energy input.

Heat Engines convert heat supplied into useful power.

Efficiency = Work output/Supplied Heat

No engine can convert all heat supply into useful work. Some part of the input heat is lost in
energy transfer, heat losses, radiation, etc.

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Principles of Energy conservation:

2. Maximum Cost Effectiveness

 Cost-effectiveness is a measure of whether an investment’s benefits exceed its costs.

 For implementation of energy conservation measures ECMs, few investments are

 Due to implementation of ECMs, cost of product is reduced. This is benefit.

 If investments are compensated by benefits, the ECM is cost effective.

 Various possible energy conservation measures provide different cost effectiveness.

 The maximum possible cost effective ECM should be selected for implementation.

Methods & Techniques of Energy Conservation in HVAC:

 HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning which account for 35% of
total energy used in manufacturing industry.

 HVAC is the collection of equipment, distribution network and terminal used to provide
fresh filtered air, heating, cooling and humidity control in a closed space like a building, a
car or a textile mill.

 HVAC systems consists of mainly motors, pumps, fans, compressors, ducts, filters,
evaporators, condensers, cooling towers, etc.

Methods & Techniques of Energy Conservation in HVAC:

1. Turn off all HVAC when not required.

2. Optimize the ventilation.

3. Shut all door s and windows when using HVAC.

4. Use curtains and blinds to avoid direct sunlight.

5. To reduce load on HVAC-

1. Turn off heat producing equipment.

2. Use automatic ON OFF control

3. Use roof painting, roof cooling, efficient lights, etc.

6. Reduce ceiling heights if possible.

7. Use electrical fans instead of HVAC as they consume less energy.

9. Maintain less difference between room temperature and surrounding temperature.

10. Refrain use of HVAC in places like kitchen, cleaning rooms, combustion place, fireplace.
Use natural air supply instead.

11. Always purchase high Energy efficiency equipment.

12. Insulate all cold lines to minimise heat gain.

13. Follow periodic maintenance schedule & part replacements.

14. Proper housekeeping – cleaning air filters, dusting fans, check pipe / duct leakage,
lubricate bearings, check compressor oil level, check fan belts, check door seals, etc.

Methods of Energy Conservation in Refrigeration:

1. Keep refrigerators less loaded for more efficiency.

2. Keep cooling coils clean.

3. Keep a refrigerator 10 cm away from wall for better air circulation.

4. Prefer water cooled refrigerator than air cooled refrigerator. Also a gas powered
refrigerator is better than an electric refrigerator.

5. Select proper refrigerant.

6. Check amount of refrigerant periodically and refill if required.

7. Adhere to maintenance schedule.

8. Use VAR system to lower down electricity consumption.

Methods & Techniques of Energy Conservation in Compressors:

1. Use multi stage compressor instead of a single stage one.

2. Use intercoolers and after coolers.

3. Use optimum delivery air pressure to reduce electricity consumption.

4. Use variable speed drive to avoid unloaded running.

5. Regular cleaning of intake air filters & oil filters.

6. Use manometer to check pressure drop across the air filter. Increased drop indicated
clogging of filter.

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 7. Inlet air should be cool. Rise of 5OC in inlet air temperature causes 1-1.5 % rise in
electricity consumption.

8. Inlet air should be moisture free.

9. Compressor FAD test be performed periodically.

10. Use air dryers to remove moisture from delivery air.

11. Regular cleaning of intercoolers.

12. Scheduled change of oil filters, air filters, seals, bearings, oil, etc.

13. Avoid air leakage in fittings, hoses, drain valves, etc.

Methods & Techniques of Energy Conservation in Pumps

1. Select design of pump carefully as reciprocating pumps are more efficient but have high
initial and maintenance costs.

2. Reciprocating pumps provide more head at low flow rates while rotary pumps give high
flow rates at lower head.

3. Match the capacity of both pump & drive with the requirement. Avoid over loading or
under loading of pump.

4. Use proper size of pipes, fittings and valves.

5. Check pressure drop across bends, fittings, valves, etc to ensure less pressure drop
(energy wastage).

6. Minimum valves / throttling be used. It results in pressure drop.

7. Avoid running many pumps in application area.

8. Use flat belts than v belts to reduce transmission losses.

9. Perform water balance test to check pump performance.

10. Run the pump at highest efficiency design point.

11. Check seals, glands and packing for leakage.

12. Use variable speed drive for variable loads.

13. Undertake periodic maintenance and replacements.

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Methods & Techniques of Energy Conservation in Fans/Blowers

1. Select design of fan carefully as per volume flow rate, pressure, medium, space available
and efficiency.

2. Match the capacity of both fan & drive with the requirement. Avoid over loading or
under loading of fan.

3. Use inlet guide vanes than dampers for flow rate control.

4. Use proper size of pipes , fittings and valves.

5. Check pressure drop across bends, fittings, valves, etc to ensure less pressure drop
(energy wastage).

6. Minimum valves / throttling be used. It results in pressure drop.

7. Remove obstructions at the inlet & exit to avoid pressure drop / back pressure.

8. Use large flow distribution & rounded entry at inlet.

9. Use flat belts than v belts to reduce transmission losses.

10. Run the fan at highest efficiency design point.

11. Avoid excess air in combustion chamber to avoid overloading of fan.

12. Install exhaust fan at high elevation than the ceiling fan.

13. Check seals, glands and packing for leakage.

14. Use variable speed drive for variable loads.

15. Undertake periodic maintenance and replacements.

Methods & Techniques of Energy Conservation in electric furnaces:

1. Match capacity with the load.

2. Use advanced technology temperature control.

3. Proper insulation reduces heat losses from furnace.

Methods & Techniques of Energy Conservation in Ovens:

1. Use microwave oven instead of traditional oven. It saves 50% of energy in cooking.

2. Do not overload the ovens.

3. Do not use large quantity of water in ovens.

5. Prefer regular cleaning and follow periodic maintenance.

Methods & Techniques of Energy Conservation in Boilers:

1. Use waste heat recovery systems like air pre heater, economiser, super heater.

2. Use water treatment to avoid rusting in boilers.

3. Use multiple drum boiler design over a single drum boiler.

4. Clean the burners nozzles strainers regularly.

5. Check oil temperature regularly in oil heater.

6. Check seals glands gaskets to avoid leaks.

7. Avoid leakage of steam.

8. Recycle the condensed steam.

9. Use automatic boiler blow down control.

10. Use oxygen trim control.

11. Use variable speed drive for variable loads.

12. Follow regular cleaning and maintenance schedule.

Methods & Techniques of Energy Conservation in lighting:

1. Use sun light as maximum as possible.

2. Use latest technology energy efficient lamps.

3. Use LED bulbs instead of CFL or incandescent lamps.

4. Use metal halide lamps instead of sodium vapour lamps / mercury vapour lamps.

5. Use of high frequency electronic ballasts reduces energy consumption by 20% .

6. Use high frequency chokes.

7. Use high efficiency luminaries.

8. Use automatic switch on off by use of occupancy sensors.

Use servo stabilizers for lighting feeders.

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