Utilidata Case Studies Saving Megawatts with Voltage Optimization

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	Saving Megawatts with Voltage Optimization Utilidata

Saving Megawatts with Voltage Optimization

Utilidata

Technology Category	Automation & Control - Supervisory Control & Data Acquisition (SCADA) Functional Applications - Remote Monitoring & Control Systems Sensors - Voltage Sensors
Applicable Industries	Utilities
Applicable Functions	Business Operation
Use Cases	Energy Management System
Challenge	Conservation voltage reduction is the practice of operating electric distribution systems at voltages in the lower range of allowable levels, thereby improving the efficiency of many electric utilization devices (e.g. induction and synchronous motors, transformers, lighting systems, etc.). This approach can be applied to a variety of industrial settings; however, using an advanced real-time control system such as AdaptiVolt™ is critical to ensuring that voltages don’t drop to levels that put important processes at risk. AdaptiVolt™ monitors voltages through the facility in real-time and makes control decisions to safely reduce voltage, thereby achieving energy efficiency gains while maintaining process reliability Read More
About Customer	Plum Creek Timber Company is the largest and most geographically diverse private landowner in the nation, spanning approximately 7 million acres in major timber-producing regions of the United States. The company produces lumber and other wood products in Read More
Customer Name	Plum Creek Timber Read More
Solution	In September 2008, Utilidata deployed its AdaptiVolt™ voltage optimization software at Plum Creek Timber’s Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) facility in Columbia Falls, Montana. The patented AdaptiVolt™ software has been installed at major electric utilities and industrial facilities in the U.S. and Canada. The AdaptiVolt™ software has provided significant energy savings when implementing conservation voltage reduction in previous deployments. Real-time voltage monitoring and Utilidata’s patented algorithms allow the system to operate in facilities with varying industrial processes while providing savings and enhancing reliability. Plum Creek’s MDF facility has two production lines: Process Line #1 and Process Line #2. Each process line has large plate refiners driven by high-horsepower (10,000+ hp) synchronous motors, which are each directly connected to one of three 13.8 kV feeders from the electric distribution substation. Each process line also has another direct connect feeder to the substation that powers the balance of the process, including motors for rolling, pressing, material handling and environmental conditioning. Each of the five electric circuits feeding the MDF facility are individually controlled at the substation by three-phase voltage regulators. Plum Creek installed an energy metering subsystem to collect voltages for this project. Meters were installed on each circuit in the substation; installed at each synchronous motor; and, installed at 27 other locations throughout the facility. The AdaptiVolt™ software connects to the electric metering system to obtain voltage readings, and then issues control commands to the voltage regulators in the substation. Plum Creek engineers and local electric utility operators have full visibility and control of the system through a SCADA user interface. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Automation & Control - Supervisory Control & Data Acquisition (SCADA)

Functional Applications - Remote Monitoring & Control Systems

Sensors - Voltage Sensors

Applicable Industries

Utilities

Applicable Functions

Business Operation

Use Cases

Energy Management System

Challenge

Conservation voltage reduction is the practice of operating electric distribution systems at voltages in the lower range of allowable levels, thereby improving the efficiency of many electric utilization devices (e.g. induction and synchronous motors, transformers, lighting systems, etc.).

This approach can be applied to a variety of industrial settings; however, using an advanced real-time control system such as AdaptiVolt™ is critical to ensuring that voltages don’t drop to levels that put important processes at risk. AdaptiVolt™ monitors voltages through the facility in real-time and makes control decisions to safely reduce voltage, thereby achieving energy efficiency gains while maintaining process reliability

About Customer

Plum Creek Timber Company is the largest and most geographically diverse private landowner in the nation, spanning approximately 7 million acres in major timber-producing regions of the United States. The company produces lumber and other wood products in

Customer Name

Plum Creek Timber

Solution

In September 2008, Utilidata deployed its AdaptiVolt™ voltage optimization software at Plum Creek Timber’s Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) facility in Columbia Falls, Montana. The patented AdaptiVolt™ software has been installed at major electric utilities and industrial facilities in the U.S. and Canada.

The AdaptiVolt™ software has provided significant energy savings when implementing conservation voltage reduction in previous deployments. Real-time voltage monitoring and Utilidata’s patented algorithms allow the system to operate in facilities with varying industrial processes while providing savings and enhancing reliability.

Plum Creek’s MDF facility has two production lines: Process Line #1 and Process Line #2. Each process line has large plate refiners driven by high-horsepower (10,000+ hp) synchronous motors, which are each directly connected to one of three 13.8 kV feeders from the electric distribution substation. Each process line also has another direct connect feeder to the substation that powers the balance of the process, including motors for rolling, pressing, material handling and environmental conditioning. Each of the five electric circuits feeding the MDF facility are individually controlled at the substation by three-phase voltage regulators.

Plum Creek installed an energy metering subsystem to collect voltages for this project. Meters were installed on each circuit in the substation; installed at each synchronous motor; and, installed at 27 other locations throughout the facility.

The AdaptiVolt™ software connects to the electric metering system to obtain voltage readings, and then issues control commands to the voltage regulators in the substation. Plum Creek engineers and local electric utility operators have full visibility and control of the system through a SCADA user interface.

Impact #1	[Efficiency Improvement - Production] There have been no production outages at Plum Creek’s MDF facility due to AdaptiVolt™. In fact, Plum Creek has experienced other benefits that have further improved process reliability.

Impact #1

[Efficiency Improvement - Production]
There have been no production outages at Plum Creek’s MDF facility due to AdaptiVolt™. In fact, Plum Creek has experienced other benefits that have further improved process reliability.

Benefit #1	Demand Savings 3.72% Energy Savings 9,063,800 kWh/yr (@ full production) Voltage Tap Change Performance 13.6 taps per day on average
Benefit #2	Environmental Impact 9,063,800 kWh of energy saving achieves a reduction of: - 6,250 metric tons of CO2 - 18,700 pounds of NOx - 48,500 pounds of SO2
Benefit #3	Plum Creek Timber earned an incentive of $337,000 for this project from Flathead Electric Cooperative and the Bonneville Power Administration.

Benefit #1

Demand Savings
3.72%

Energy Savings
9,063,800 kWh/yr (@ full production)

Voltage Tap Change Performance
13.6 taps per day on average

Benefit #2

Environmental Impact
9,063,800 kWh of energy saving achieves a reduction of:
- 6,250 metric tons of CO2
- 18,700 pounds of NOx
- 48,500 pounds of SO2

Benefit #3

Plum Creek Timber earned an incentive of $337,000 for this project from Flathead Electric Cooperative and the Bonneville Power Administration.

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Overview

Saving Megawatts with Voltage Optimization

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit