Browsing by Author "Brown, M. L."

Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
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    ANSI/MSE 2000: A Single Standard for Diverse Business Sectors
    (Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu), 2002) Brown, M. L.; Zinga, S.
    The Energy and Environmental Management Center (EEMC), part of the Georgia Tech Economic Development Institute, has developed a comprehensive energy management standard, officially adopted by ANSI, to identify and achieve energy management goals. Known as ANSI/MSE 2000, it emphasizes training, development of standard operating procedures, energy monitoring and team-based problem solving. Key elements of implementing ANSI/MSE 2000 at three different locations: Genuine Parts Company, a U.S. Post Office Processing and Distribution Center, and Collins & Aikman, a carpet manufacturer were studied by the authors, and the results, obstacles, and benefits of the management system were determined. Implementation outcomes to be presented include: 1) Establishing an organizational structure that supports long-term energy improvement, 2) Overcoming obstacles to successful energy management planning, 3) Moving to a unified approach in energy management, 4) Creating and empowering an effective energy management team, 5) Prioritizing and coordinating multiple energy management projects, and 6) Sustaining energy management by monitoring cost, performance and environmental factors.
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    Energy Conservation Recommendations, Implementation Costs, and Projected Paybacks for Georgia's Targeted Schools and Hospitals Conservation Program
    (Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu), 1988) Brown, M. L.; Moore, D. M.; Georgia Tech Research Institute
    During the past year the Georgia Tech Research Institute performed technical assistance studies on over 100 school and hospital buildings under a program funded by the Governor's Office of Energy Resources. This program is known as the Targeted Schools and Hospitals Program because its objective is to involve facilities which have never participated in the traditional DOE funded Institutional Conservation Program (ICP) due to economic hardships. The program was specifically directed at non-participants by providing fully funded energy surveys on qualifying facilities. The energy surveys were conducted by the Georgia Tech Research Institute under contract with the Office of Energy Resources. This paper presents results on the range of energy conservation recommendations made and the number of occurrences in the total population as well as the typical percentage energy savings. This data can be used in forecasting the expected types of recommendations and energy reduction potential for a large population of institutional buildings.
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    Energy Consumption and Conservation Potential at a Georgia Textile Plant
    (Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu), 1994-04) Gurta, M. E.; Brown, M. L.
    Textile manufacturing comprises approximately twenty percent of the industrial employment in Georgia. Because of the importance of this sector to the economy of this state and others in the southeast, efficient production is crucial to its future prosperity. With energy constituting a major component of variable operating costs, an analysis of energy consumption at a typical integrated mill was formulated. Because the process includes knitting, bleaching, dyeing, and compaction and the knitting area is air-conditioned, the plant is an intensive user of electricity, fossil fuel, and water. Following completion of the energy analysis, recommendations to conserve energy and water resources were developed. Potential energy savings of approximately thirty percent were identified.
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    An Evaluation of Georgia's Institutional Conservation Program Preliminary Report - June 1989
    (Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu), 1989) Brown, M. L.; Downing, C.; Georgia Tech Research Institute
    The Institutional Conservation Program (ICP) has been active in Georgia since 1980 and has distributed over $20 million in matching funds for conservation measures and energy studies. The purpose of the ICP is to reduce energy consumption in schools and hospitals and to foster active energy management through the grant process. This qualitative assessment of a majority of the grant recipient's post-grant behavior and the time dependability of installed conservation measures. The report includes a statistical summary of the program's grants from 1980 through 1986, program related information gained from grantee interviews, and a review of quality and effectiveness of implemented conservation measures. Suggestions to potential applicants and the state energy office for improving program success are also offered.
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    An Evaluation of Thermal Storage at Two Industrial Plants
    (Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.eslwin.tamu.edu), 1991-06) Brown, M. L.; Gurta, M. E.
    Thermal storage offers substantial energy cost savings potential in situations with favorable electrical rates and significant cooling demand. Full storage is usually restricted to facilities occupied only part of the day, but two industrial plants were recently encountered which offered the potential for full storage. The first plant, a textile weaving operation, has over 5,000 tons of installed chiller capacity used for strict control of temperature and humidity. Measurements of peak load indicated the units were less than 50 percent loaded. Because of the excess chiller capacity, summer demand can be met by operating the units fully loaded during off-peak hours and storing unneeded chilled water in a storage tank for daytime usage. The second plant is a single shift poultry processing operation that uses large amounts of ice to preserve the product during shipping. In this case, ice making during off-peak times for use during production was analyzed. Despite the fact that both options offered significant savings, the paybacks were higher than acceptable due to the significant investment required. While the projects are not economically feasible at the present time, the analysis verifies the technical feasibility of thermal storage. Future changes in electricity cost could make the concept more attractive economically.
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    Identifying Efficiency Degrading Faults in Split Air Conditioning Systems
    (Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu), 2013) Terrill, T. J.; Brown, M. L.; Cheyne, R. W. Jr.; Cousins, A. J.; Daniels, B. P.; Erb, K. L.; Garcia, P. A.; Leutermann, M. J.; Nel, A. J.; Robert, C. L.; Widger, S. B.; Williams, A. G.; Rasmussen, B. P.
    Studies estimate that as much as 50% of packaged air conditioning systems operate in faulty conditions that degrade system efficiency. Common faults include: under- and over-charged systems (too much or too little refrigerant), faulty expansions valves (stuck valves, valve hunting, poorly tuned valve controllers), and fouled evaporators and condensers. Furthermore, air conditioning systems can often be adjusted to improve efficiency while continuing to meet cooling loads (adjusting system pressures, decreasing superheat setpoints). This study presents the design of a low cost device that can non-invasively measure system operating conditions, diagnose faults, estimate potential energy savings, and provide recommendations on how the system should be adjusted or repaired. Using eight external temperature measurements, the device potentially can detect and diagnose up to ten faults commonly found in HVAC systems. Steady state temperatures are compared to threshold values obtained from literature and HVAC manufacturers to detect and determine the severity of faults and subsequent reductions in coefficient of performance. Preliminary tests reveal the potential for the device to detect and diagnose common efficiency-degrading faults in HVAC systems.
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    Improved Audit Implementation Through Programmed Report Delivery
    (Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu), 1995-04) Brown, M. L.; Gurta, M. E.; Meffert, W. A.
    Studies of energy audit recommendations have identified four primary barriers to implementation, perceived process interference, finances, organizational changes, and knowledge limitations leading to a bias against innovative technologies. To address these barriers, Georgia Tech engineers providing industrial audits have begun a program of delivering audit reports instead of mailing them. Although report delivery does not directly confront barriers relating to organization changes, it can be effective in dealing with the other three barriers. The delivery process is automated by using a personal computer and overhead projector to display relevant audit calculations, graphs, and tables as well as images of recommended equipment and maintenance concerns. The program elements can be modified depending on the plant and audit report contents.