Product category:
Energy management; Boiler plant
News Release from: Eriks UK | Subject: Coors thermographic survey
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial
Team on 20 March 2008
Thermography helps Coors to tune energy
efficiency
The new Eriks thermography department, based in Tyseley, Birmingham has achieved a notable success in offering the Coors brewery in Burton the potential to save up to GBP60K annually in energy costs
Always looking for ways to further refine its energy efficiency Coors worked with WEMS (Wyko Electro Mechanical Services) and initiated a survey, using thermal imaging, which traditionally it has just used for condition monitoring, to study the heat and energy loss from other diverse areas of its facility Taking two days, the survey cost Coors less than GBP1k and was conducted using a Flir ThermaCAM P640: it encompassed boiler houses, overhead pipe work, tank houses, the brewhouse, powder rooms and outside areas, all across the No1 brewery
This article was originally published on Processingtalk on 9 Jul 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
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Duncan Webb, Eriks Thermography Business Development Manager, commented: "Our work with Coors offers a great example of the capability of the thermography department.
We assess the integrity of a customer building.
We look at their pipe-work, heating systems, cooling equipment, windows, roofs, lagging, floors and seek out areas of inefficiency.
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We then offer hard figures which show directly the costs incurred by different types of heat loss and present the customer with recommendations, a budget quotation for repair work, and offer a follow-up survey to confirm that the work has solved the relevant problems".
Once the survey was complete a simple to understand report was generated for the Coors energy manager, that gave digital photographs alongside thermographic images highlighting 'hot spots'.
Alongside this WEMS also provided an easy to use power loss calculation, the total power loss is a combination of the loss through convection and radiation.
The power emitted from a pipe is calculated and as the price of electricity per KW/h for Coors is known then the cost to heat the surrounding air can be determined.
This report highlighted an enormous range of potential savings for the brewery from GBP288 per annum for a minor loss up to GBP21k per annum for some outside pipe-work.
The report identified potential savings of around GBP60k, although to achieve this saving the brewery would have to invest in some repair work - all of which can be done through WEMS.
As a result of the thermographic survey several steam leaks were also identified which were not taken account of in the total power loss calculations.
As even a 1/4 inch hole can cost over GBP200 per week in steam losses: eliminating these types of leak could provide further savings, but they were not included in the main report.
The use of thermal surveying techniques to identify energy saving opportunities is another novel use of thermographic technology which is fully supported by Coors.
The Coors Energy manager commented that, "Expanding the use of thermal imaging on the site through the WEMS project is just another example of how we are embracing best practice at Coors.
Because of the non-invasive nature of the technology the survey was carried out quickly and with no disruption to the site or production.
The potential areas which the report has highlighted will, once the changes are implemented, represent a significant energy saving for us which is important for our CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) position, our business efficiency, and our financial bottom line".
As well as investing in equipment, Eriks has also invested in the training of its staff and it now has access to 30 thermography technicians, located throughout the UK, that are qualified to conduct thermographic surveys at a customer site.
Acting as a valuable resource to customers amid the fluctuating ecological landscape WEMS can even help in dealing with The Carbon Trust, and offer expert advice on how best customers can approach the use of Energy Saving Loans. Request a free brochure from Eriks UK ...
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