Variable Speed Drives on Flue Gas Control, Pumps and Fans

In any plant, there is a need to adjust the load on cooling, pumping systems to the fluctuating demand conditions. Variable speed drives (VSDs) enable better and faster matching of fan/pump output to the demand conditions. In addition, VSDs allow for significant energy savings as the energy consumption decreases with reduced flow rate. VSDs also help improve overall productivity, process control and product quality. VSD systems are offered by many suppliers and are available worldwide.

It should be noted that in certain operational contexts other load adjustment measures - such as use of pony pumps - may offer a more efficient solution.

Development Status Products
Commercial

Variable Speed Drives on Flue Gas Control, Pumps and FansCosts & Benefits

Parent Process: Cross Cutting Technology
Energy Savings Potential

US flag  Energy saving potential is estimated to be 0.02GJ/t-product (US EPA, 2010)
Electricity savings are estimated to be between 20 – 50% of pump energy consumption (Worrell, et al., 2010. p. 64).

EU Flag A plant in Germany saved 3.2 GWh/y and 325 GWh/y with the installation of VSDs (IPPC, 2009). 
CO2 Emission Reduction Potential
Costs

Implementation costs are estimated between $1.3/t-product (APP, 2010) to $2.0/t-product.

EU Flag  Investment costs for the German plant was €67 thousand. It provided annual savings of €32.5 thousand, giving a payback time of 2.1 years, and a RoI of 48%. (IPPC, 2009)

Variable Speed Drives on Flue Gas Control, Pumps and Fans Publications

The State–of-the-Art Clean Technologies (SOACT) for Steelmaking Handbook

Date: 

Dec
2010

Source: 

Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate

Format: 

PDF

Type: 

Publications

 

The State–of-the-Art Clean Technologies (SOACT) for Steelmaking Handbook is developed as part of the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate program and seeks to catalog the best available technologies and practices to save energy and reduce environmental impacts in the steel industry. Its purpose is to share information about commercialized or emerging technologies and practices that are currently available to increase energy efficiency and environmental performance. 

http://asiapacificpartnership.org/pdf/Projects/Steel/SOACT-Handbook-2nd-Edition....

Page Number: 

116

Available and Emerging Technologies for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from the Iron and Steel Industry

Date: 

Oct
2010

Source: 

United States Environmental Protection Agency

Format: 

PDF

Type: 

Publications
http://www.epa.gov/nsr/ghgdocs/ironsteel.pdf

Page Number: 

10

Draft Reference Document on Best Available Techniques for the Production of Iron and Steel

Date: 

Jul
2009

Format: 

PDF

Type: 

Publications
http://old.vpvb.gov.lv/ippc/bat/bat_ES1/EdzelzsTerauds_Pr200907.pdf

Page Number: 

61

Energy Efficiency Improvement and Cost Saving Opportunities for the U.S. Iron and Steel Industry

Date: 

Oct
2010

Source: 

United States Environmental Protection Agency

Format: 

PDF

Type: 

Publications

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) energy guide, Energy Efficiency Improvement and Cost Saving Opportunities for the U.S. Iron and Steel Industry, discusses energy efficiency practices and technologies that can be implemented in iron and steel manufacturing plants. This guide provides current real world examples of iron and steel plants saving energy and reducing cost and carbon dioxide emissions.

http://www.energystar.gov/ia/business/industry/Iron_Steel_Guide.pdf?25eb-abc5

Page Number: 

64