Turn fans down to reduce emissions - Industrial Technology Magazine

ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT & DESIGNTurn fans down toreduce emissionsIf just half of Britain’s electric motors werereduced in speed by 10%, it would have thenet effect of mitigating for the carbonemissions of 9.8 million cars every yearWhile this fact might notenthuse Jeremy Clarkson,it has a far more seriousmessage and that is thatgovernments subscribing to the KyotoProtocol, and its greenhouse gasemissions reduction targets, continueto ignore the low hanging fruit thatelectric motor control presents.According to GAMBICA, the UK’sbody representing the automationand control manufacturers, thesimple control of electric motors hasbeen overlooked as a significantenergy conservation measure. Whileenergy efficiency attention has tendedto focus on building fabric, lightingand heating, motors have beenlargely ignored. By doing asGAMBICA suggests and controllingmotors, a populace equivalent tonearly four million households wouldbe rendered carbon neutral – at anaverage of 6.5 tonnes of emissionsper household.Similarly, long term considerationis given to reducing car exhaustemissions by both vehicle design anddiscouraging car use, yet theexpedient of controlling electricmotors in buildings and industry willachieve a greater net effect in theshort term.Likewise in electricity generation,where exploration of renewable andgreen energy continues apace whilecontrolling electric motors would savethe entire output of Drax, the UK’slargest coal fired power station, everyyear. The reason the savings are sogreat, explains Steve Brambley ofGAMBICA, is that electric motorsconsume huge amounts of electricity– about two-thirds of industrialenergy use and about one quarter oftotal UK consumption. A simpleelectric motor costing a few hundredsof pounds can be expected toconsume many tens of thousands ofpounds worth of electricity over itsuseful lifetime.The laws of physics concerningfans means that for every 10%reduction in speed, in accordancewith the cube law of fans, there issubsequent saving of three times thatin electricity consumed.www.gambica.uk.orgAC speed controller forRittal fans and filtersRittal’s new SK3120.200 is anelectronic speed control for2-pole single-phase AC motorswhich replaces the older controllersSK3120.000 and SK3120.115. Thenew device has a supply range from100V to 230V 50/60Hz in one unitand is a simple snap fit onto standard35mm support rails, which makes iteasier to position within theenclosure.Supplied with a temperaturesensor that can be positioned withinthe enclosure to monitor particularhot spots, the device controls the fanspeed based on a manually adjustedset point P1 to ensure optimumcooling and noise reduction is given atall times. A minimum speed set pointP2 allows full control over coolingwithin the enclosure.A visual LED and an alarm relaywill give indication of either overtemperature, fan fail, sensor fail orshort circuit and interruption to thesupply cable or fan cable.www.rittal.co.uk22INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY • June/July 2010

Enclosures, Cabinets and FansCabinet coolers run oncompressed air supplyJust dry it...Exair’s new CE compliantCabinet Coolers are the lowcost way to purge and coolelectrical control panels. The cold airis circulated through the enclosure toeliminate heat damage and controlshutdown. Independent laboratorytesting certifies that Cabinet Coolersmeet the appropriate CE safetyrequirements that now make themsuitable for a wide range of enclosurecooling applications.The compact Cabinet Coolers canbe installed in minutes through astandard electrical knockout hole.They convert an ordinary supply ofcompressed air to cold -6°C airwithout refrigerants or CFCs. CabinetCooler systems include a compressedair filter to assure no moisture or dustis introduced inside the panel.Optional thermostat controlminimises compressed air use.Cooling capacities up to 5,600Btu/hr. are available. Cabinet Coolersare UL Listed and maintain NEMA14, 4 and 4X rating of the electricalenclosure. There are no moving partsto wear out and no maintenance isrequired. Applications include coolingPLCs, microprocessors, variablefrequency drives, industrial computersand robotics. The Cabinet Coolers areavailable in the UK from Good Hand.www.goodhanduk.co.ukWe have the rightcomponent dryingsolution for yourbusiness.Low-smoke, zero-halogencable available from AercoAlpha Wire’s low-smoke, zerohalogencommunication andcontrol cable (LSZH) is nowavailable from Aerco. When standardcable and wire burns the insulatingmaterials emit smoke, gas and acidthat can be highly toxic. The AlphaWire range of high performance cablereduces the smoke and totallyeliminates the halogen emittedwithout compromising on mechanicaland electrical performance.The Alpha Wire LSZH cable hascorrosion resistant, tinned copperconductors, stranded conductors forinstallation flexibility and is availablein multipair and multiconductorconfigurations and in versions thatare foil shielded for EMI protectionand improved signal integrity. Theyalso have colour-coded conductorinsulation for clear, positiveidentification. Alpha Wire LSZHcommunication and control cablesare invaluable in applications such asrapid transit and any industrial andcommercial applications where fire inconfined space would create a healthhazard and possibly endanger life.www.aerco.co.ukACI Airknife Drying Solutions are the efficient and costeffective method for surface drying applications.ACI is a leading manufacturer of industrial air movement productsand Airknives are a proven tool wherever elimination of surfacewater is required. For a FREE ON-SITE demonstration, or paybackanalysis please contact us.Find out more at:www.aircontrolindustries.comAir Control Industries LtdWeycroft AvenueMillwey Industrial EstateAxminster Devon EX13 5HUUnited KingdomT: +44(0)845 5000 501F: +44(0)845 5000 502E: sales@aircontrolindustries.comAir Control IndustriesJune/July 2010 • INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY23