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Xcel Energy Webinar

October 24, 201311:30 am to 1:00 pm CT

Xcel Energy Webinar

October 24, 201311:30 am to 1:00 pm CT

VFDs Drive Efficiency:Learn how Variable Frequency Drives

can benefit your facility.

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Cost of doing business

Electricity costs typically account for approximately 95% of the cost to own and operate electric motors over a ten-year operating period. The purchase price plus installation, maintenance and other costs account for 5% over the same ten year operating period.*

* (Source: Center for Energy Efficiency / Motors Decisions Matter)

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Fundamentals of VFDs

Motors in the United States operate at a fixed frequency of 60 Hz (1 cycle every 1/60 seconds).

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Fundamentals of VFDs

►A VFD changes the frequency of the current going to the motor

►A reduction in frequency results in the shaft of the motor spinning at speeds lower than the standard 1200, 1800, and 3600 RPMs (depending on the motor)

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Benefits of VFDs

► Added Control – smoother acceleration & deceleration, automated response to system conditions (e.g. pressure, flow, etc…)

► Power Factor Correction

► Soft Start – reduction of high starting torque and current surges that can be up to eight times the full-load current

► Energy Savings – especially on variable-torque centrifugal fan and pump applications

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Energy savings potential

►Fans & Pumps offer the highest potential for savings

►Example:

►Flow Increase 10%

►Power increase 33%

Small decrease in flow =

Bigger decrease in power

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Energy savings potential

►Savings vary by application

►Applications such as extruders and conveyors may experience savings, but not to the same degree as fans and pumps.

►Right tool for the right job

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Market segments

► Industrial Processes – such as glass manufacturing, mining, refining

► Food processing

► Grocery Stores

► Commercial Space (retail & real estate)

► Schools & Universities

► Cold Storage

► Hospitals

► City waste water treatment plants, etc

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Common applications

►HVAC fans & pumps

►Refrigeration Compressors

►Air Compressors

►Conveyors

►Extruders

…. Just about anything that utilizes an AC motor.

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Quick review

►VFDs offer operational and power consumption benefits

►Can be applied to a wide variety of end-uses

►Savings vary by end-use

►Pumps & fans greatest opportunities

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Example - The cost of a VFD For K-12 school purchasing a 15 HP VFD on Fan.

15 HP VFD on a fan operating a 15 HP motor:►Cost for VFD - $2,443►Total labor costs - $1,910

These costs include also include: Engineering - $300 VAC Tech -   $255 Electrician - $255

►Total projects costs for VFD - $4,353

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The cost of a VFD

For this K-12 school►15 HP VFD rebate - $1,250

►60% of project cost - $2,612

►Energy Saved - 9,920 kWh and estimated $575.00/year savings

►Project payback – 3.4 years

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VFD Upgrades yield Big return on a small investment

The situation► A resourceful non-profit with a 68,000 sq ft facility in the

heart of downtown Minneapolis was looking for ways to maximize their operating budget

► In need of energy efficiency upgrades so they started with the low-hanging fruit type projects such as lighting. But did not stop there as they wanted to maximize the energy savings potential

► Much of the HVAC equipment had been installed in the 1960’s and air handling units did not have VFDs

Case study: Greater Twin Cities United Way

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Case study: Greater Twin Cities United Way

The Impact of installing two 15 hp VFDs►32,665 kWh in total energy savings

►$2,500 in rebates from Xcel Energy

►Less than 17 month payback

►Projected savings from the VFDs is $3,200 annually

►More control over their system

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Case study: City of Richfield VFD project—turning Water Into Savings

The situation► The water treatment plant relies heavily on constant speed

motors and VFDs to maintain a steady pump “flow” as the water is transported out of the wells and to approximately 34,000 residents.

► Seven wells and multiple pumps

► 25 to 30-year-old motors and VFDs

► High energy costs

► The City didn’t want a hodge-podge system with dissimilar equipment. They wanted the pumps to run and operate as seamlessly as possible.

► Running similar equipment helped synchronize operations and improve efficiency.

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Case study: City of Richfield VFD project—turning Water Into Savings

Results of the City’s Efforts► 375,570 kWh in total energy savings

► $20,865 in rebates from Xcel Energy

Additional Impacts► Lower energy costs on each statement

► Increased reliability in motors & VFDs

► Ease of use with automated system

► Improved energy efficiency

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Quick review

►VFDs have energy savings benefits

►To see more customer case studies visit Responsible By Nature.com

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When VFDs are not beneficial

►Constant speed or power (hp): when a motor is set to run at full speed

►High static pressure installations: Drives on submersible pumps or any above ground pumps that operate systems with a high static dominated pressure level

►Poor Sequencing: The best sequencing for VFD systems depends on the end use application

(Source: Esource.com)

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What’s most important to Facility Managers & Engineers

►Keep plant running – increase uptime

►Reduce plant operating costs

►Often heard –

“Keep the facility running but don’t spend a nickel more than you need to…..”

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Motor Decisions Matter (MDM)Change the Purchasing Pattern

►Commitment

►Set goals

►Make action plan

►Implement plan

►Verification

►Recognize achievements

►Repeat cycle

ENERGY STAR ®. 10-10-2013. US Environmental Protection Agency and US Department of Energy.  http://www.energystar.gov

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More resources

Motor Decisions Matter (MDM)►Facility managers are increasingly under pressure

to reduce energy costs, increase productivity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Sound VFD management is a key strategy to achieve these goals.

►Start today. Because managing a plan is easier than managing a crisis.

►Web address: motorsmatter.org

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More resources

The Energy-At-Risk Financial Analysis Tool can help you…

►Determine the payback and cost of your VFD & other energy efficiency upgrades.

►Simple payback periods

►ROI

►Break-even analysis

►The cost of doing nothing

►Visit XcelEnergy.com to access this free tool

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Rebates

►To offset the costs of VFDs Xcel Energy offers rebates ranging from $400 to $8,000►On either a fan or a pump

►From 1 to 200 hp

►Custom rebates are also available for VFDs►Chillers, air compressors, refrigeration

compressors, etc

►Over 200 hp

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Quick review

►Xcel Energy offers rebates to off-set equipment costs

►We have tools to help you determine the cost of a VFD

►VFDs are beneficial in many market segments and many types of applications

►But are especially beneficial on fans and pumps

►Sometimes VFDs are not beneficial

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Contact us

►Let us help you determine if VFDs can benefit your facility.

►Contact your account manager or the Energy Efficiency Specialists at 1-800-481-4700

►Or email us at energyefficiency@xcelenergy.com

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Thank you.