The course outlines energy efficiency concepts, linked to the use of fixed speed and variable speed drives for a specific application which is the compressed air production and management. The student will be able to carry out an energy audit on a CAS (compressed air system) and produce a valuable comparison in terms of feasibility studies, not only between fixed speed and variable drives machines, but also with respect to the whole facility plant.
Course Prerequisites
Students are required to acknowledge basics from courses such as electrical energetics/energy management, chemistry, technical physics, controls, thermal prime movers.
Teaching Methods
Lectures (hours/year in lecture theatre): 22 Practical class (hours/year in lab): 4 Practical / Workshops /Seminars (hours/year in lecture theatre): 4
Assessment Methods
The exam is oral: it consists in the proposal of a case study to solve in front of the instructor or on a PC, by making the most of the content shared in class. Knowledge on the running parameters of the LABAC’s compressors (fixed speed and variable speed compressors) will be verified.
Texts
All the material is accessible through KIRO and available on shared folders whose link is reported on KIRO. Material is available online from March all through September, then from October it goes offline (maintenance period) to prepare for the new semester. ALERT: Students shall be knowledgeable that they must download all the needed materials no later than September, before the shared folders go offline.
Contents
Applications of electrical drives for compressed air facilities. Recall to basic knowledge on fluid machines (compressors); Introduction to Compressed Air Systems; basics on sizing elements, configurations and problems of energy efficiency. The role of controls in the modeling. Understanding the technical datasheets of machines. Energy comparisons between fixed and variable speed machines.
