Adjustable Speed- A Tool for Saving Energy Losses in Pumps, Fans, Fans, Blowers and Compressors

Abstract

Petroleum and chemical plants of today are effectively cutting energy losses in their plants thermally, electrically, and mechanically in their process equipment. In rotating process equipment such as pumps, fans, compressors, and blowers, much mechanical or fluid energy is being dissipated or thrown away by throttling valves, dampers, and adjustable guide vanes. Adjustable speed is an increasingly used feature in the search to find energy losses and reduce them. The paper reviews fluid mechanics in lay terms in an effort to illustrate where losses may be found and how to determine how much may be saved by retrofitting to or using adjustable speed. It also discusses other potential ways that adjustable speed may be typically used for process savings.