Motor Decisions MatterSM (MDM) is a national campaign to increase public awareness of motor management opportunities, demand for motor management services, and implementation of motor management practices. Through the efforts of our sponsors, MDM has established a unique presence to promote motor management practices and provide tools and resources to get started. A comprehensive set of resources and tools that helps deliver and solidify sound motor management practices is available at the MDM website. You will also find motor management case studies, tip sheets, and links to articles and other resources.
IN THIS ISSUE:
Welcome
Industry and Energy Efficiency in the News
DOE Resources
Sponsor Spotlight A-Z
Upcoming MDM Events
MDM in the News
The Campaign’s traditional motor management focus will expand in the coming years. While we will continue to deliver the core motor management message, we will also embrace the challenge to respond to the needs for tools and resources that identify even larger energy and cost-saving opportunities through motor system management.
The MDM e-Newsletter provides updates related to managing and optimizing motor-driven systems in commercial and industrial applications, including those provided by the MDM Campaign and its sponsors. Please contact us at mdminfo@cee1.org and let us know if there are specific topics you’d like us to cover.
Dirk Koechner
Industrial Program Manager, CEE
ISM Reports Fastest Manufacturing Growth Rate in 6 Years
In its April Report on Business edition, the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) reports U.S. manufacturing industry growth for the ninth month in a row in April expanding at the fastest rate since June 2004. Seventeen of 18 manufacturing industries tracked reported growth in April. ISM’s key performance indicator, the Purchasing Manager’s Index (PMI), registered 60.4 percent, an increase of 0.8 percent over March's reading of 59.6 percent. A PMI reading above 50 percent indicates that the manufacturing economy is generally expanding; below 50 percent indicates that it is generally contracting. Additional information is available in the April Manufacturing ISM Report on Business.
ASME Issues Four New Energy Assessment Standards
In the race to save both energy and money, industrial customers will be interested in four new energy assessment standards developed collaboratively by the Department of Energy’s Industrial Technologies Program (DOE ITP) and ASME Standards & Certification. These standards establish requirements and best practices for conducting energy assessments in industrial facilities.
The new standards cover process heating (ASME EA-1-2009), pumping (ASME EA-2-2009), steam (ASME EA-3-2009), and compressed air systems (ASME EA-4-2010). These standards provide a basis for operators of industrial facilities to measure energy efficiency, improve environmental performance, optimize fuel utilization, and perform other important energy assessments. Additional information is available from ASME’s Press Release page.
Steel Plant Saves $200,000 Annually with Drive and Idle Technology
ArcelorMittal’s specialty rolling mill plant in Conshohocken, PA has implemented a variety of technology and process improvements that idle machinery during production delays. Improvements include the use of a variable frequency drive for a 3,500 hp motor, saving more than $100,000 per year on energy bills, and the development of software that automatically idles and restarts equipment, saving approximately $1,300 per week. Additional information is available in the March edition of Environmental Leader.
Experts Advise Assessing the Complete Motor System
To achieve higher levels of energy efficient motion control, industry experts recommend looking beyond individual motor efficiency and toward overall motor system drivetrain efficiency. In addition to the motor, such factors as appropriate drive implementation, gear box losses, transmission losses and losses in linear slides and other devices in the system need to be considered.
A variety of software modeling tools have been developed by automation suppliers to enable machine builders to identify energy-efficient solutions throughout the motor driven system or the ‘electromechanical drivetrain.’ Experts advise to utilize machine design, engineering analysis, and energy monitoring and software modeling tools when making decisions on the best investments to reduce energy costs.
The MDM Campaign will be expanding its messaging in the coming years to address motor system efficiency opportunities. Additional information on overall system efficiency considerations is available in the April edition of Design News.
DOE State Incentive and Resource Database Updated
The State Incentive and Resource Database available on the DOE Save Energy Now State Partnerships website, was updated in March 2010 to include additional search categories and recent incentive offerings. The database now contains 3,034 entries including energy assessments, grants, rebates, and energy analysis tools.
The database contains nearly 200 motor and motor system related incentives and resources nationwide, including motor management training, guides and tools, and high efficiency motor and drive rebate programs. Visit the DOE Save Energy Now website for details. Visit the ITP State Incentive and Resource Database.
DOE Motor Systems Management 1-day Workshop
A one-day motor systems management workshop sponsored by the DOE Industrial Technologies Program will be held November 11 in Downey, California. The workshop will cover motor systems management including applications, inventory tracking, maintenance, replacement decisions, repair, and the impact and maintenance of power quality. To learn more about this and other DOE ITP training events related to compressed air, steam systems, process heating, and pump systems, please visit the DOE ITP Best Practices training calendar.
DOE Launches Save Energy Now LEADER Program
In December 2009, The DOE Industrial Technologies Program (ITP) Save Energy Now program announced a new LEADER partnership program. Save Energy Now is a national program that offers technical assistance and resources to companies that pledge to reduce industrial energy intensity by 25 percent or more over ten years. Companies that have committed to these energy reduction goals (LEADER companies) gain priority access to a variety of ITP resources; however, all companies are encouraged to apply for Save Energy Now energy assessments and have access to a substantial number of online resources, including links to financial opportunities supporting energy efficiency efforts. Visit DOE Save Energy Now for details.
This section of the e-Newsletter will spotlight specific experiences and insights from MDM sponsors. Each newsletter will feature a different sponsor. If you would like to share a motor management success story with the MDM Campaign, such as a program implementation or service offering, please contact Dirk Koechner, CEE Industrial Program Manager.
NYSERDA-NGRID Upstate New York Energy Efficiency Expo
On March 30th, 2010 NYSERDA and National Grid teamed up to host the National Grid-NYSERDA Energy Efficiency Commercial & Industrial Expo in Verona, NY. New York state commercial and industrial customers and vendors were invited to attend and learn about opportunities to achieve energy savings and participate in National Grid and NYSERDA efficiency programs. In addition to savings opportunities through drives and motor management, topics covered include efficiency opportunities in compressed air, lighting, and HVAC. Visit the event web site for details and presentations.
June 27-29th: MDM will be at the 2010 EASA Convention
MDM will have a booth at the 2010 EASA Convention in Orlando, FL. The Electrical Apparatus Service Association (EASA) is an international trade organization of over 2,100 electromechanical sales and service firms in 58 countries. Through its many engineering and educational programs, EASA enables members to keep up to date on materials, equipment, and state-of-the-art technology. The annual convention is an educational and networking opportunity for EASA members. Please stop by to pick up MDM tools and resources and learn more about what’s planned for 2010!
For other future events, please refer to the MDM Events Calendar.
Maintenance Technology magazine runs a bi-monthly column ("Boosting Your Bottom Line") contributed by MDM staff and sponsors. The column discusses motor management strategies ranging from motor planning to creating a spares inventory.
The April 2010 issue includes the article Building Blocks of Motor Management, which discusses the key aspects to proactive motor management, including developing a motor inventory, repair/replace decision guidelines, purchasing specifications, and best-practice repair specifications.
The December 2009 issue included the article Motor Management Also Considers Energy Efficiency, which discusses thinking beyond individual motor specifications and focusing on overall motor management and system optimization, which offers further opportunities to achieve efficiency and greater long term savings.