Variable speed drive achieves energy savings of up to 40% for boiler house pump application

Phil Black - PII Editor 27/01/2014

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Variable speed drive technology matches supply to demand to reduce running costs and maintenance requirements in Ford Dunton Technical Centre boiler house pump application

Parker Hannifin, the global leader in motion and control technologies has supported Ford in reducing its energy costs and C02 emissions by specifying its AC650V variable speed drives as a replacement technology. The drives were specified and installed in the boiler house at Ford’s Dunton Technical Centre, Essex, UK. They have enabled the company to achieve energy savings of up to 40% on the running of its pumps.

The two HPHW pumps previously used a fixed-speed drive solution which resulted in significant amounts of power being wasted. However, the benefits of using AC650V variable speed drives extends beyond reduced energy costs, achieved by matching motor-speed to application demands – for example, quieter running, reduced maintenance, improved power factor along with the anticipated increased life of pumps and ancilliary equipment, such as ducting and pipework.

Parker’s AC650V drives combine ease-of-use with high levels of control and are available in a wide range of frame sizes that cover the power requirements of most potential applications in multiple market sectors.

Importantly in this application, Parker was able to use its energy calculator tool very early in the process to illustrate the cost saving potential of adopting variable speed drives in place of the current fixed-speed units. The reduced running costs allowed a rapid return on investment for the initial capital outlay. For one of the two pumps, the calcuations projected an annual energy cost saving of over £11,000 – equivalent to between 30 and and 40%. The decreased need for expensive and disruptive maintenance added further to the overall financial savings.

“In addition to providing an important piece of new business, this was a great example of how the benefits of adopting the latest energy efficient drive technology can improve all apsects of an end application. Our energy calculator tool provided compelling evidence of the quick return on investment that could be achieved and we were able to outline the potential long-term ongoing savings and enhanced system reliability and life,” said Sanjay Joshi, Account Manager, Parker Hannifin. “Ford was pleased to be able to not only reduce its energy costs, but also its C02 emissions as a result.”