Energy Audit

Energy today has become a key factor in deciding the product cost at micro level as well as in dictating the inflation and the debt burden at the macro level.

Energy cost is a significant factor in economic activity. On per with factors of production like capital, land and labor. The imperatives of an energy shortage situation calls for energy conservation measure, which essentially mean using less energy for the same level of activity.

Energy Audit attempts to balance the total energy inputs with its use and serves to identify all the energy streams in the systems and quantifies energy usage’s according to its discrete function.

Energy Audit helps in energy cost optimization, pollution control, safety aspects and suggests the methods to improve the operating & maintenance practices of the system.

It is instrumental in coping with the situation of variation in energy cost availability, reliability of energy supply, decision on appropriate energy mix, decision on using improved energy conservation equipment's instrumentation's and technology.

The Energy Audit provides the vital information base for overall energy conservation program covering essentially energy utilization analysis and evaluation of energy conservation measures. It aims at:

• Identifying the quality and cost of various energy inputs.
• Assessing present pattern of energy consumption in different cost centers of operations.
• Relating energy inputs and production output.
• Identifying potential areas of thermal and electrical energy economy.
• Highlighting wastage’s in major areas.
• Fixing of energy saving potential targets for individual cost centers.
• Implementation of measures for energy conservation & realization of savings.

Board guidelines indicating the methodology for such an energy audit is given below. Possible stages for interaction/conference are also indicated.

• Collections of data on operational parameters, energy consumption both
  normal and electrical, coal and power quality etc., through a questionnaire.
• Study the existing plant capacities and their performance to assess plant operations.
• Study of the specific energy consumption (both thermal and electrical) department-wise and plant as a whole.
• Study of the power sources, distribution system and drive controls, load factor and efficiency of large motors, process automations, plant illuminations etc.
• Collection of requisite data and analysis and identification of specific areas with potential for conservation of thermal and electrical energy.
• Field measurements of operational parameters and carrying out heat and mass balance.
• Study of limitations, if any, in the optimal use of thermal and electrical energy.
• Discussion with specific recommendations along with broad system concept for conservation of thermal and electrical energy.
• Preparation of capital cost estimates and establishing techno-economic feasibility for recommended measures.
• No investment and/or marginal investment by doing system improvements and optimization of operations.
• Major investment due to incorporation of modern energy intensive equipment and upgradation of existing equipment.
• Formulating tentative time schedule for implementation of the recommendation.
• Undertaking broad cost benefit analysis in terms of savings in energy consumption per unit of production and pay-back period.

The detailed audit goes beyond quantitative estimates of costs and savings. It includes engineering recommendations and well-defined project, giving due priorities.

Approximately 95% of all energy is accounted for during the detailed audit. The detailed energy audit is conducted after the preliminary energy audit. Sophisticated instrumentation including flow meter, flue gas analyzer and scanner are use of compute energy efficiency.