COOLING SYSTEMS IN A MANUFACTURING COMPANY
In a production plant, the infrastructure is constantly changing. For example, production processes change from time to time, which immediately places new demands on cooling systems. For example, cooling water networks may need to be expanded, adapted in terms of layout, or even reduced in size. All these changes cause branches, new pipe dimensions, or “dead” strands in a cooling water network. As a result of this change, a cooling water network becomes much less visually clear, which is detrimental to targeted diagnosis.
For this reason, GEDIA decided back in 2012 to purchase a flexible energy meter that enables the virtually unlimited recording of
relevant parameters in a cooling water circuit. Such a measuring system is now in place at most of our locations. At locations where there is still no dedicated energy meter, measurement assignments are scheduled and supervised and evaluated by GEDIA Germany. The insights gained from this continue to help us optimize our energy consumption to the absolute maximum.
By using this measuring device, we can analyze the actual situation in the cooling water system. Due to the measurements, which are sometimes taken weekly, almost every production situation is recorded. This long period of time is extremely important, as high cooling requirements can sometimes overlap in a cooling water network. Subsequently, it is possible to determine very specifically and precisely whether measures need to be taken and, if so, which ones, in order to meet future requirements.
In the past, cooling systems were often oversized due to the summation of safety reserves for individual system components.
The experience and knowledge gained from a wide range of measurements in a variety of production situations now enable cooling systems to be designed to be significantly smaller and considerably more efficient.
Furthermore, depending on the production site, machines or system components are sometimes designed for significantly higher cooling water temperatures as a result of very lengthy design coordination processes.
As a result, the cooling water can be used exclusively for cooling purposes for as many days of the year as possible.
This has enabled us to successfully dispense with mechanically generated cooling in the main cooling system at our newest production plant in Attendorn. This allows us to reduce the high energy requirements of cooling machines, as around
one-third of the required cooling capacity must be supplied as electrical power.
- Björn Müller, Group Director Machine and Facility Management