A Study of the Electrical Energy Usage Patterns of a Texas Dairy

Abstract

A one-year study was done on a modern dairy operation located in Hopkins County, Texas to determine the load patterns and total energy use of the major electrical loads in the dairy. It was found that the vacuum pumps for the milking machines consumed the most energy, followed by the water heater and milk coolers. Consumption for water heating and milk cooling was found to vary seasonally. Peak demands for the dairy occurred at 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. throughout the year during the morning and afternoon milkings. The morning peak occurred two hours prior to Texas Power & Light Company's winter peak hour, and the evening peak is coincident with TP&L's summer peak hour. It was estimated that a savings of approximately 33% on water heating kWh was attained through a waste heat recovery system connected to the milk coolers. The water heating load was found to have the highest load factor coincident with TP&L's summer peak of any of the loads monitored.