Summary for energy savings opportunities Discussion
energy savings opportunities in plating plants are discussed with a focus on practical, proven measures rather than theoretical claims. Leo Guidolin asks what energy management options exist for large plating companies, especially around rectifiers, solution temperatures, and whether different plating solutions use different amounts of energy. The answer recommends starting with AESF Research Project #46, "Energy Conservation Study of the Plating and Metal Finishing Industry," by Daniel Mazzeo of Georgia Tech, and also "The Energy Conservation Handbook" from AESF/NASF. The responder notes that although both references are old, they are not especially outdated. A key caution is to be skeptical of grant-supported studies that report savings too quickly, since shops often revert to old methods after a few years if the changes were not practical. The only firm operational advice given is to increase lighting levels, not reduce them.
Q. Hello:
I work for an electric utility in the Toronto area as an Energy Management Advisor. We have several large plating companies in our jurisdiction and I’m wondering what specific energy management opportunities there are available to these customers. I understand that the majority of energy used in such plants is consumed by the rectifiers as part of the plating operation itself – can anything be done to improve the efficiency of this operation i.e. solution temperatures, differences in energy requirements for different available solutions, etc..
Thanks.
Leo Guidolin
Etobicoke Hydro – Ontario, Canada
1998
A. You might want to get AESF Research Project #46 “Energy Conservation Study of the Plating and Metal Finishing Industry”, which was prepared by Daniel Mazzeo of Georgia Tech in 1978. AESF (www.nasf.org) also should be able to get you a copy of “The Energy Conservation Handbook”, prepared in 1976. Although this stuff is very old, I don’t find it especially outdated.
But be wary of any reports of energy savings in grant-supported studies! There is strong vested interest in immediately reporting savings when grants are involved, but I usually find that if you contact the shops reporting the savings two or three years later, most or all of the old ways were restored because the new ideas didn’t actually stand the test of time and practicality.
And no matter what else you suggest, increase the lighting level; don’t even dream of decreasing it by one candlepower :-)
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com – Pine Beach, New Jersey
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1998
Energy optimisation, power consumption in anodising, waste reduction
Q. I am an intern for a brake manufacturing company in Chennai, in the anodising unit. My project is to reduce energy consumption/ optimise energy in the anodising unit / reduce wastage in the process. We have an impregnation, chromating and anodising plant. Any measures to reduce/reuse materials and any strategy to reduce power would be really helpful.
An immediate reply would be very helpful.
Deepika.
Deepika Krishna
– Chennai, Tamilnadu, India
June 28, 2015