Making sure your processes are well controlled can help save energy and reduce running costs. In drying, moisture content monitoring can eliminate over or under-drying.
- Check that equipment is not left running when not required.
- Check that your process is not operating at a higher temperature than necessary, and is able to maintain an accurate temperature.
- Check that the time the process is held at the processing temperature is not longer than needed.
- Check if it is possible to increase the heating rate and reduce the overall time spent at a higher temperature.
- Check that your process is not running for longer than necessary and the product being over-treated.
- Check that utilities are not left on when the process is not running.
- Consider changes to scheduling, where possible, to allow more efficient use of the process equipment.
- Consider installing variable speed fans. Air-flow control in dryers and furnaces is sometimes achieved by dampers interrupting the flow from a fan which is usually working at full load. Variable speed fans can be much more energy efficient.
More information is available in the Motors and Drives section.
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