Energy Conservation - The Easy Stuff
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1) The document discusses easy and low-cost energy conservation measures that were proposed in the 1980s but largely ignored, such as installing insulation, adjusting lighting schedules, and maintaining steam traps. 2) While the author's report on these measures was well-received, no significant action was taken due to budget cuts. Instead of implementing an energy efficiency program, staff was laid off. 3) The document argues that seriously pursuing energy conservation, even simple measures, has been largely talked about rather than implemented at the operating level since the 1970s. Future economic constraints may make transitioning to more sustainable practices more difficult.
Energy Conservation - The Easy Stuff
- 1. ENERGY CONSERVATION – THE EASY STUFF 1 In most of the literature about energy conservation, talk is about the “latest” energy conservation-efficiency device or system that is going to smoothly transition the American society into the remaining 21st century in a style it has become accustomed to. If you want to understand how easy that transition will be than just look at the U-Tube videos about what has taken place in the southeast this past week with the Colonial Pipeline incident. That brings back memories of the way we were 1973 and 1979. There is a large list of energy efficiency devices and systems, most all of which are not new and have been discussed for a long time such as CHP (Combined Heat and Power), Distributed Energy, Cogeneration, Trigeneration, Absorption Refrigeration, Microturbines, Natural Gas Chillers, Photovoltaic Solar Panels, Wind Farms, Fuel Cells, Topping Cycles, Bottoming Cycles, and Energy Storage among others. All these devices and system require a considerable capital investment to institute. Why not start with the easy stuff? Let’s start with what should be common sense. The more employees you have, the more energy you will consume (and of course the greater operating expense). Wait a minute maybe that’s not so easy, but it is definitely in the cards in the future and to ignore it is just placing your head deeper in the sand. Anyone ever heard of the term artificial intelligence? That’s definitely a big part of American industry’s future as companies transition from an age of growth to an age of survival. There will be more about that in the next presentation. In the mid-1980s, I was working for a newly-formed basic chemicals company (from a leveraged buyout) that apparently had an uphill battle for survival and little capital for projects so I prepared what I thought was a logical survey of quick payback energy conservation measures. Energy conservation had become a concern in the late 1970s and early 1980s after the 1973 and 1979 oil crises; however, it was mostly talk and no action. The measures listed are not as important as the points I will make. The first point is none of this requires an engineering degree to understand, but little attention was paid to these things in the 1970s and 1980s. The following is what I wrote in a memo to the “Engineering Manager” in early 1985. 1. Have operators manually stop steam flow to steam tracers stop flow at the end of March and start flow at the beginning of December. 2. Investigate economics of installing ambient-sensing valves that shutoff the flow of steam to tracers when temperatures rise above 35 degrees F.
- 2. ENERGY CONSERVATION – THE EASY STUFF 2 3. Keep steam traps in good working condition by biannual inspection. 4. Force steam trap manufacturers to honor their warranties by keeping records on initial installation of steam traps. 5. Reinstall insulation that has been removed from piping for maintenance. 6. Investigate economics of installing removable insulation on valves, flanges, heat exchanger heads, steam turbines, hot pumps and compressors, and distillation column and storage tank manways. 7. Inspect and repair insulation that has lost its thermal effectiveness. 8. Investigate the economics of installing new insulation over old insulation to reduce heat loss. 9. Adjust photocells so that lights turn off sooner. Some street and plant lights are still on when there is sufficient daylight. 10.Whenever possible, continue to purchase “energy-efficient” motors. 11.Investigate energy efficiency of certain pumping loops. Some impellers might be trimmed to reduce necessary throttling of control valves. Variable speed or two-speed motors might be cost effective in certain situations. 12. Instruct cleaning personnel or someone in each building to turn off lights and turn down thermostat in winter or turn up thermostat in summer before leaving the building. 13. Investigate energy efficiency of plant buildings. These measures are not rocket science and you can find the same wording in the present-day literature of manufactures of steam traps, insulation, and other energy savings devices, and of course, the DOE and everyone they can pay to write about the obvious. Point two is what was done about my report? I was told it was a nice report, but nothing of significance was done. This was a brief period when the company had to reduce expenses to the minimum fast so instead of instituting an energy conservation program, they reduced the labor force not directly involved in operations. The engineering manager and the guy above him were laid off or given “voluntary retirement” or whatever nicety you want to use. However, I, the youngest of the three, remained employed there. Simple, keep the guy or gal you pay less, a policy which will be renewed with widespread popularity soon. The
- 3. ENERGY CONSERVATION – THE EASY STUFF 3 future policy will be to employ something you don’t have to pay at all, and you don’t have to worry about hiring and firing it either. Point three is that energy conservation has been seriously discussed since the 1970s, but very little action has been taken at the operating level. Most of the engineering savings have been in improved process designs that have recovered waste heat by modifications to original designs developed through the 1970s. Someone has to tell me how increasing the efficiency of consumption of energy is really energy conservation, but nevertheless the present-day petrochemical processes are much more efficient than in the 1970s and 1980s. The problem is many plants that are still in operation were built in the 1970s and early 1980s. So what do you think about the continuity of these plants over the next ten years, especially if you work in one of them? Point four is that there will be far less capital available when the Ponzi scheme finally goes bust soon. That will make the conversion of the wasteful technologies of the 20th century to a new green, energy efficient future a delusion. The idea that the American economy can grow non-stop is nonsense perpetuated by many who believe (or pretend to believe) that American technology is capable of miracles. The only miracle will be the United States surviving the next twenty years without a major economic catastrophe that changes almost everything we consider normal. The only possible choice will be a massive energy conservation program that starts with abstinence.