Control’s Monthly Resource Guide
Every month, CONTROL’s editors take a specific product area, collect all the latest, significant tools we can find, and present them here to make your job easier. If you know of any tools and resources we didn’t include, send them to [email protected], and we’ll add them to the website.
REDUCE ELECTRICITY COSTS
Baldor Electric
479/646-4711
A white paper entitled “A Proven Approach to Reducing Electricity Costs” gives you tips on how to make industrial motors more energy-efficient. According to a Department of Energy report published in 1998, industrial processes consume 679 billion kWh or 63% of all electricity used in the U.S. This paper explains how to achieve motor efficiencies and cut electricity costs throughout your plant.
INTELLIGENT MOTOR CONTROL
Rockwell Automation
440/646-3434
Website describes intelligent motor control that includes variable-frequency drives, intelligent software and networked motor condition-monitoring devices capable of providing users with both an immediate and measurable impact on energy use and operation efficiency. It also includes a few tools that show how you can reduce energy costs.
ENERGY SAVING TIPS
University of Minnesota
800/247-0015
Fact sheet helps you calculate demand and energy costs of industrial motors. Together these equal your annual cost to operate motor driven equipment. Once you have calculated your annual cost, compare it to the annual cost to operate EPACT and premium efficiency motors.
AC DRIVE SELECTION AND SETUP
ISA
919/549-8411
This course describes the requirements for setting up most common AC variable speed drives. The course outlines how to determine drive requirements based on motor application; how to set up a drive for basic control requirements; and how to determine run, protection and stop parameters for common applications. The direct link to information about the course is found at www.isa.org/Template.cfm?Section=Education_and_Training&template=/Ecommerce/ProductDisplay.cfm&ProductID=2479.
TECHNICAL LIBRARY
National Instruments
800/531-5066
Motion Control Technical Library is an online resource with over 1,200 technical notes, webcasts, application solutions, advisors and selection guides and over 150 example programs you can use to learn about motion control fundamentals, share with the online developer community and examine best practices. Topics include motion fundamentals, stepper motion, servo motion, custom motion and more.
MOTOR SIZING CD
Parker Hannifin, Compumotor Div.
707/584-7558
Downloadable CD contains all the necessary programs to make your job of specifying the correct motion control components. Whether your task is sizing rotary and linear motors, or choosing compatible amplifiers, or ensuring compatibility with your motor and cable sets, the CD will give you the answers.
SMART SPEED
Control Global
630/467-1300
Article by David Spitzer entitled “Getting up to Smart Speed” discusses how to use variable-speed drives to save money and gain even more by thinking strategically and picking projects carefully. Many energy savings techniques are discussed. The direct link to the story is found at www.controlglobal.com/articles/2008/307.html.
