Maintenance Technology November 2015 - (Page 40)
THERMAL IMAGING
MAINTENANCE+RELIABILITY
CENTER
One of the fastest ways to save energy is to perform thermal scans throughout a facility. In
motors and generators, electrical inefficiencies often appear as overheating.
Scan
These Six
Energy
Wasters
Thermal imaging will help
you find and eliminate
wasted energy in these
industrial hot spots.
IN ANY INDUSTRIAL facility, one of
the fastest ways to cut overall costs is
to save energy. One of the fastest ways
to save energy is to perform thermal
scans throughout a facility, looking for
places where heat is escaping, cold is
intruding, and/or temperatures aren't
what they should be. In any facility there
are six areas/components that are leading
candidates for energy abuse. Here's what to
scan in those hot spots.
Building envelopes
The rarely perfect building envelope
includes a facility's exterior structure,
including roof, walls, windows, doors,
loading docks, penetrations, and other
openings; and the climate controls within.
Scan:
■ roofs, looking for moisture issues and
thermal differences that signal possible
air leaks
■ walls between conditioned and
unconditioned spaces, including
outside walls
■ envelope penetrations, such as pipes,
conduits, and chimneys
■ door and window frames and seals
to locate air leaks (Repairs are often
as simple as caulking or weather
stripping.)
Worth noting: According to the U.S.
Department of Energy, improving the
efficiency of a building's envelope can
reduce energy bills by at least 15%.
Electrical system
Electrical systems are generally less than
100% efficient. As components degrade
and resistance increases, energy losses
mount. Scan:
■ distribution panels, unbalanced
circuits, and loose and/or corroded
connections
■ transformers (If one electrical leg is
significantly hotter than the others, it
may be failing.)
■ lighting-control circuits, focusing
on splices and connections at fuses,
switches, panels, and fixtures.
Motors and generators
Electrical inefficiencies most often
appear as overheated areas in motors and
generators. Scan:
■ airflow
■ electrical unbalance, i.e., load imbalance and single phasing
■ bearings
■ winding insulation
■ electrical connections.
Boilers
Boilers are the heart of steam and
water-heating systems and those vessels
consume, and often waste, a significant
amount of energy. Scan:
■ refractory and insulation
■ fan motors
■ pumps
■ valves (Thermal imagers can identify
blocked and leaking valves.)
■ electrical connections (Loose or
corroded connections increase
electrical resistance.)
HVAC systems
Heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning
(HVAC) systems are usually some of
the biggest energy consumers within
commercial and industrial facilities. Scan:
■ ductwork and registers
■ fans and blowers
■ electrical connections
■ compressors and coils, specifically look
for blocked coils and clogged cooling
fins.
Worth noting: Buildings with
constant-air-volume systems often have
air leaks that can cause as much as 33%
energy loss. Considerable savings can be
achieved by implementing duct-sealing
and insulation remedies.
Steam heating systems
Steam systems are more common in
industrial facilities than commercial
settings. Scan:
■ steam traps for proper operation
through complete cycle
■ radiator coils for leaks in radiators and
joints
■ steam lines and valves, particularly
leaks, blockages, and blow-by at valves
that are "closed"
■ condensers (Outside air leakage
reduces performance and energy
efficiency.).
Worth noting: If a medium-sized
steam trap fails open in a 100-psig steam
system, it will waste about $3,000/yr. MT
These tips were provided by thermal imaging experts at Fluke Corp., Everett, WA. For more information on the use of this technology,
visit fluke.com.
40 |
MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY
NOVEMBER 2015
http://www.fluke.com
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Maintenance Technology November 2015
Editorial
Uptime
For on the Floor
Tiered Empowerment Drives PEX Reliability
Consider the Common-Cause Method
Think Like A Hacker
Take a "CSI" Approach to Asset Management
Maximize HVLS Fan ROI
Keep Your Planners Focused
Extend Chain Life
Scan Energy Wasters
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