PLCs are popular in plant and machine automation because of their flexibility and reliability. In normal operation, PLCs are unlikely to fail, and it is possible to run a backup PLC if required. But how far do you go in backing up a reliable PLC control system? The engineer at one Severn Trent wastewater treatment […]
The importance of a hotel’s hot water system cannot be underestimated. For the guests, it’s right up there with comfort, cleanliness, security and Internet access. For one UK hotel, installing ABB VSDs improved the hot water pumping and returned a 53% energy saving. The 200-room Daresbury Park Hotel & Spa came under the Britannia Hotel […]
Linking asset maintenance and energy costs A recent white paper, Schneider Electric looks the relationship between asset maintenance and energy costs in pumping. Assets such as pumps need maintaining on an ongoing basis, and maintenance costs are 25% of TCO. Thus maintenance practices warrant examination of their contribution to energy-influenced savings. In pumping installations, […]
Energy savings? I don’t believe it. Sometimes, the simplest solutions are the best. UK manufacturing needs to improve its productivity. An easy way of achieving this is to reduce energy costs. At least, so you would think. Yet, a report from ABB suggest theory and practice are not the same when it concerns reducing […]
Installers of new plant and equipment, can be confident that it is energy efficient. The UK Government encourages the use of energy efficient equipment through tax and investment subsidies. The Carbon Trust’s Green Business Fund provides more guidance on these programmes, including when retrofitting VSDs and other energy saving equipment. Retrofitting VSDs There are […]