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Demand Control Utilizing Energy Management Systems - Report of Field Tests
Abstract
Energy Management systems and particularly demand controllers are becoming more popular as commercial and light
industrial operations attempt to reduce their electrical usage and demand. Numerous techniques are used to
control energy use and demand and many manufacturers are offering equipment. This study attempts to characterize and quantify the effects of various control philosophies used in these equipments. Monitoring and
control equipment has been installed in commercial facilities with results used in this study. Individual
loads have been characterized by their demand contribution and run times. Load profiles and demand histories
for various facilities have been used to analyze several energy control philosophies. The results from pre
and post control situations are herein presented by using the collected field data. It has been found that
facilities which appear quite similar may vary in load characteristics such that the same control philosophies
may not produce the same result in demand limiting or energy savings. Specifically, the proper energy management
philosophy depends not only on the operation of the facility, but also on the characteristics of the individual
loads which may be controlled. This paper gives comments concerning scheduling control concepts and
demand limiting philosophy. Special recommendations are made regarding demand control techniques.
Citation
Russell, B. D.; Heller, R. P.; Perry, L. W. (1984). Demand Control Utilizing Energy Management Systems - Report of Field Tests. Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu); Texas A&M University (http://www.tamu.edu). Available electronically from https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /6588.