Emerson Exchange 365

Industrial Energy Blog

92 posts

Yes, You Can Reduce Your Plant’s Energy Costs Easily and Affordably 9 days ago

Activity

Positioner Pneumatic Pressure Bleed in Throttling Control Valves

Jim Cahill

With the emphasis on improving energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, process manufacturers have turned to pneumatic low-bleed and zero-bleed valve positioners. Emerson’s Riyaz Ali copied me on an email about a recent article that mentioned a zero-bleed valve positioner. Riyaz noted that positioners mounted on valves used in throttling applications need to be dynamic in operation. He gave an example…
- 14 Jun 2017
Accurate Level Measurement for Efficient & Reliable Boiler Performance

Jim Cahill

If you’re unfamiliar with the phrase “ heat rate ” used in the electrical power generation industry, it means the amount of heat energy in BTUs as input to the turbine generators divided by the amount of electricity generated in kilowatts. Accurate level measurement in the boiler drums and feedwater heaters is critical to optimize efficiency and run the turbines reliably over time. Matt Brummer Level Product Specialist…
- 1 Jun 2017
Impressions from CERAWeek 2017

Jim Cahill

CERAWeek is “…the premier annual international gathering of energy industry leaders, experts, government officials and policymakers, leaders from the technology, financial, and industrial communities – and energy technology innovators.” I’ll be here this week in Houston, Texas to bring some of the themes and concerns by those involved in energy. The Twitter hashtag #CERAWeek provides a real-time steady stream of news…
- 6 Mar 2017
Optimizing Energy Usage in Multi-Fuel Boilers

Jim Cahill

Steam is a critical part of many process manufacturing processes and the energy to produce it can be a significant source of operational costs. I recently caught up with process automation hall-of-fame member Greg McMillan and Emerson’s Scott Pettigrew at the Emerson Exchange conference here in Austin. Greg and Stan Weiner had recently interviewed Scott in a ControlGlobal.com article, Boilers as fast as can be . …
- 16 Nov 2016
Optimizing Energy Usage in Multi-Fuel Boilers

Jim Cahill

Steam is a critical part of many process manufacturing processes and the energy to produce it can be a significant source of operational costs. I recently caught up with process automation hall-of-fame member Greg McMillan and Emerson’s Scott Pettigrew at the Emerson Exchange conference here in Austin. Greg and Stan Weiner had recently interviewed Scott in a ControlGlobal.com article, Boilers as fast as can be . …
- 16 Nov 2016
Optimizing Energy Usage in Multi-Fuel Boilers

Jim Cahill

Steam is a critical part of many process manufacturing processes and the energy to produce it can be a significant source of operational costs. I recently caught up with process automation hall-of-fame member Greg McMillan and Emerson’s Scott Pettigrew at the Emerson Exchange conference here in Austin. Greg and Stan Weiner had recently interviewed Scott in a ControlGlobal.com article, Boilers as fast as can be . …
- 16 Nov 2016
Optimizing Energy Usage in Multi-Fuel Boilers

Jim Cahill

Steam is a critical part of many process manufacturing processes and the energy to produce it can be a significant source of operational costs. I recently caught up with process automation hall-of-fame member Greg McMillan and Emerson’s Scott Pettigrew at the Emerson Exchange conference here in Austin. Greg and Stan Weiner had recently interviewed Scott in a ControlGlobal.com article, Boilers as fast as can be . …
- 16 Nov 2016
Steam Management and Optimization

Jim Cahill

At the Emerson Exchange conference in Austin, Emerson’s Jim Dunbar presented Steam Management and Optimization. His abstract: Sipchem facility includes utility plant supplying steam to seven downstream production plants. Utility plant was struggling with reliability issues that had caused a ripple effect throughout the entire facility causing significant production loss. SipChem consulted Emerson and based on recommendations;…
- 27 Oct 2016
Identifying Energy Saving Opportunities

Jim Cahill

Last week in a post, Reducing Demand Charges in Energy Bills , we highlighted the opportunity for process manufacturers and producers to optimize energy costs. Today, we’ll look at how to better identify these opportunities for energy savings. Emerson’s Bill Thackston explained to me that even in these current times of low energy prices that it is worth another look at your bill, comparing your year on year demand…
- 12 Sep 2016
Reducing Demand Charges in Energy Bills

Jim Cahill

The cost of electrical power has grown more complex over time. It used to be that your kilowatt-hours (kwh) consumed were tallied to arrive at the cost. As the metering has grown more sophisticated, variable rates have emerged based on peak energy usage, time of day, usage thresholds and more. I connected with Emerson’s Bill Thackston to learn about a meeting he recently attended on energy management information systems…
- 9 Sep 2016
Reducing Demand Charges in Energy Bills

Jim Cahill

The cost of electrical power has grown more complex over time. It used to be that your kilowatt-hours (kwh) consumed were tallied to arrive at the cost. As the metering has grown more sophisticated, variable rates have emerged based on peak energy usage, time of day, usage thresholds and more. I connected with Emerson’s Bill Thackston to learn about a meeting he recently attended on energy management information systems…
- 9 Sep 2016
Reducing Demand Charges in Energy Bills

Jim Cahill

The cost of electrical power has grown more complex over time. It used to be that your kilowatt-hours (kwh) consumed were tallied to arrive at the cost. As the metering has grown more sophisticated, variable rates have emerged based on peak energy usage, time of day, usage thresholds and more. I connected with Emerson’s Bill Thackston to learn about a meeting he recently attended on energy management information systems…
- 9 Sep 2016
Reducing Demand Charges in Energy Bills

Jim Cahill

The cost of electrical power has grown more complex over time. It used to be that your kilowatt-hours (kwh) consumed were tallied to arrive at the cost. As the metering has grown more sophisticated, variable rates have emerged based on peak energy usage, time of day, usage thresholds and more. I connected with Emerson’s Bill Thackston to learn about a meeting he recently attended on energy management information systems…
- 9 Sep 2016
Clean Energy Smart Manufacturing Innovation Institute

Jim Cahill

Process manufacturers and producers are under constant pressure to improve performance to remain competitive and maintain ongoing profitability. Technology can help play a large role in increasing performance through reliability, production availability, energy and emissions reductions, improved safety and security, and overall production optimization. Advancements in technologies and work processes not only come from…
- 2 Sep 2016
Energy Management-Plan Do Check Act

Jim Cahill

Plan. Do. Check. Act. From Wikipedia : PDCA ( plan–do–check–act or plan–do–check–adjust ) is an iterative four-step management method used in business for the control and continual improvement of processes and products. It is also known as the Deming circle/cycle/wheel , Shewhart cycle , control circle/cycle , or plan–do–study–act ( PDSA ). The ISO 50001:2011 global energy management standard , modeled after…
- 30 Aug 2016
Energy Management-Plan Do Check Act

Jim Cahill

Plan. Do. Check. Act. From Wikipedia : PDCA ( plan–do–check–act or plan–do–check–adjust ) is an iterative four-step management method used in business for the control and continual improvement of processes and products. It is also known as the Deming circle/cycle/wheel , Shewhart cycle , control circle/cycle , or plan–do–study–act ( PDSA ). The ISO 50001:2011 global energy management standard , modeled after…
- 30 Aug 2016
Energy Management-Plan Do Check Act

Jim Cahill

Plan. Do. Check. Act. From Wikipedia : PDCA ( plan–do–check–act or plan–do–check–adjust ) is an iterative four-step management method used in business for the control and continual improvement of processes and products. It is also known as the Deming circle/cycle/wheel , Shewhart cycle , control circle/cycle , or plan–do–study–act ( PDSA ). The ISO 50001:2011 global energy management standard , modeled after the…
- 30 Aug 2016
Energy Management-Plan Do Check Act

Jim Cahill

Plan. Do. Check. Act. From Wikipedia : PDCA ( plan–do–check–act or plan–do–check–adjust ) is an iterative four-step management method used in business for the control and continual improvement of processes and products. It is also known as the Deming circle/cycle/wheel , Shewhart cycle , control circle/cycle , or plan–do–study–act ( PDSA ). The ISO 50001:2011 global energy management standard , modeled after the ISO…
- 30 Aug 2016
Optimizing Sugar Mill Boiler Performance

Jim Cahill

Steam boilers are used in sugar mills to generate electricity and for heat in various stages of production, such as crystallization process . This process converts the sugar syrup into sugar crystals. Optimizing the performance of the boilers improves energy efficiency and reliability for this required heat and electricity. I caught up with Emerson’s Scott Pettigrew when he was in town last week and he shared the story…
- 12 Aug 2016
Optimizing Sugar Mill Boiler Performance

Jim Cahill

Steam boilers are used in sugar mills to generate electricity and for heat in various stages of production, such as crystallization process . This process converts the sugar syrup into sugar crystals. Optimizing the performance of the boilers improves energy efficiency and reliability for this required heat and electricity. I caught up with Emerson’s Scott Pettigrew when he was in town last week and he shared the story…
- 12 Aug 2016
Optimizing Sugar Mill Boiler Performance

Jim Cahill

Steam boilers are used in sugar mills to generate electricity and for heat in various stages of production, such as crystallization process . This process converts the sugar syrup into sugar crystals. Optimizing the performance of the boilers improves energy efficiency and reliability for this required heat and electricity. I caught up with Emerson’s Scott Pettigrew when he was in town last week and he shared the story…
- 12 Aug 2016
Optimizing Sugar Mill Boiler Performance

Jim Cahill

Steam boilers are used in sugar mills to generate electricity and for heat in various stages of production, such as crystallization process . This process converts the sugar syrup into sugar crystals. Optimizing the performance of the boilers improves energy efficiency and reliability for this required heat and electricity. I caught up with Emerson’s Scott Pettigrew when he was in town last week and he shared the story…
- 12 Aug 2016
Energy Overconsumption Alerts

Jim Cahill

Energy management information systems, such as Energy Advisor , can help spot, alert operators and report on energy overconsumption events. In this quick, 46 second YouTube video, Energy Advisor: Overconsumption Alerts , it shows how to identify and log root causes for energy over-consumption events. From this data, energy managers can review Pareto charts indicating the most frequent and costly reasons for these events…
- 28 Mar 2016
Improved Emissions and Lower Fuel Costs at RDM Blendecques

Jim Cahill

Italian recycled paperboard producer, Reno De Medici (RDM) Blendecques mill in Saint Omer, France had a big challenge to modernize a control system with a short time window during a planned shutdown. The control system managed two Heat Recovery Steam Generators (HRSGs) that produce steam for the process from two gas turbines and additional burners. Even more important was the need to reduce emissions by optimizing…
- 4 Mar 2016
Optimize Energy Consumption with Additional Monitoring

Jim Cahill

In a quick Emerson Exchange 365 Operate & Maintain group discussion post, Plant modernization for energy efficiency and loss control , Emerson’s Barbara Hamilton alerted the community to a nice article in Control Engineering Asia magazine. The article with the same title by Emerson’s Jonas Berge describes how additional measurements in older process manufacturing and production plants are being added to make them more…
- 1 Feb 2016