Newsletter Riddle – September 2024
Answer: Meat
Newsletter Riddle – August 2024
Answer: None. He has three sisters.
EAS – There when you need us – providing 24 hour/7 day a week cover for our clients
The EAS team can provide 24/7 cover for your plant ensuring that you’ve got help when you need it for any unplanned outage or electrical emergency that might occur.
Whether you need help due to power outages, electrical fires, equipment malfunctions, short circuits or electrical shock incidents EAS will be there to help you get your plant up and running again as quickly as possible.
What should you do in the event of a machine breakdown or electrical emergency:
- Ensure the area is safe:
- turn off and isolate the machine
- secure the area to prevent accidents.
- Conduct an initial assessment:
- if it is safe to do so, carry out a basic inspection of the machine, noting any unusual noises, smells or visible damage.
- Check maintenance logs:
- check any recent maintenance history for recurring issues or recent repairs. This can help diagnose where the problem may be coming from.
- Take photos:
- these can help EAS understand the problem before they arrive.
- Log the job through the appropriate channels for EAS to come and assist you get back up and running.
Early Warning Signs of Potential Electrical Hazards
There can be early warning signs that a machine may be about to fail. These could include:
- frequent circuit breaker trips
- unusual noises from electrical panels
- flickering lights
- burning smells from wiring or equipment
- visible wear or damage to electrical components.
If you notice any of these signs, the best action is to log a maintenance callout before a full breakdown occurs. Better yet, talk to the EAS team about getting a planned maintenance schedule in place to reduce the likelihood of any unplanned downtime.
If you would like to arrange on call cover for your plant, get help with carrying out your planned maintenance or developing a planned maintenance plan for your business, get in touch with the EAS team today on 07 834 0505 or [email protected].
Newsletter Riddle July 2024
Answer: An Elevator or Lift
5 key pump checks for peak performance
Five key checks you should do on your pumps to avoid costly breakdowns.
- Power Source
If the pump has stopped working, or is operating below expectation, it could be a power issue.- Check that the pump is receiving the correct power supply according to factory specifications to work properly.
- Ensure all electrical wiring is in good condition, with no loose connections and the electrical current is reaching the pump.
- If you have an air operated pump, make sure that the compressor is in good working order.
- If the pump is operating on mains supply, assess whether the mains electricity is stable or not. Surges and/or dips in supply can seriously affect pump performance.
- Sound
One of the first indications of an under performing pump is the sound it makes. A change in sound can alert you to an issue with your pump or system. If you hear popping sounds, especially near the impeller, you could be experiencing cavitation. This occurs when there are pressure changes within a liquid, causing tiny pockets of air to form and then implode. This can seriously damage the pump, especially the impeller. Check if there are any signs of cavitation, such as eroded material. While the pump will produce a natural hum, it should not be making any strange noises. If it is, this indicates something is wrong. - Alignment & Leakage
Is the impeller aligned correctly and piping correctly installed?
A properly installed pump system does not overly vibrate and shouldn’t generate excessive heat. If there is anything leaking from your pump or fittings, then this can indicate an issue with the pump. - Wear & Tear
General wear and tear will occur as the pump ages. If the pump has been operating for many years, it may need replacing. Check for visible signs of wear and tear such as residue or deposits in the system which have broken off the pump, pipe, valve or fitting interiors. - Factory Performance
You should be aware of how the pump is expected to operate. This will allow you to identify when the pump is not operating to factory specifications and may be starting to fail. Key indications could be not getting the head pressure or flow you think you should.
If you want to ensure your pumps are in optimal working condition, give the experts at Electrical and Automation Solutions a call on 07 834 0505.
We’ll help you keep your plant at peak performance.
Newsletter Riddle – June 2024
What is most useful when it is broken?
Answer:
An egg
May 2024 Newsletter Riddle
There’s a one-storey house in which everything is yellow. Yellow walls, yellow doors, yellow furniture. What color are the stairs?
Answer: There are no stairs – it’s a one storey house.
Biomass Boilers
Biomass boilers are heating systems that use organic materials, such as wood pellets, wood chips, or agricultural waste, to generate heat for buildings or industrial processes. These boilers operate similarly to conventional boilers, but instead of burning fossil fuels like oil or gas, they burn biomass materials.
Biomass boilers are an environmentally friendly option because they use renewable organic materials as fuel and help reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
Biomass boilers offer several benefits, both practical and environmental. These include:
- Renewable Energy Source:
Biomass is a renewable energy source, as it comes from organic materials such as wood, agricultural residues, or dedicated energy crops. Unlike finite fossil fuels, biomass can be continually replenished through sustainable forestry and agriculture practices. - Reduced Greenhouse Gas Emissions:
Biomass boilers produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuel-based boilers. While burning biomass does release carbon dioxide (CO2), the plants used for biomass absorb CO2 from the atmosphere during their growth, creating a closed carbon cycle. This results in lower net emissions and helps mitigate climate change. - Waste Utilisation:
Biomass boilers can utilise various types of organic waste materials, including wood chips, sawdust, agricultural residues, and even municipal solid waste. By converting these waste materials into energy, biomass boilers help reduce landfill usage and provide a sustainable solution for waste management. - Energy Efficiency:
Biomass boilers can achieve high levels of energy efficiency, especially when combined with modern technologies such as condensing heat exchangers and advanced control systems. This allows for optimal utilisation of the energy content in the biomass fuel, resulting in cost savings and reduced fuel consumption. - Versatility:
Biomass boilers are versatile and can be used for various applications, including space heating, hot water production, and industrial processes. They can be sized to meet specific heating requirements and integrated into existing heating systems with relative ease. - Government Incentives:
EECA’s Government Investment in Decarbonising Industry Fund (GIDI) has co-funding available for businesses wanting to switch from fossil fuels to low-carbon alternatives. Since 2020, the GIDI Fund has supported 12 businesses to switch from coal and gas to biomass boilers. To find out what funding may be available for your biomass boiler, check out https://www.eeca.govt.nz/
Biomass boilers should be considered by a range of industries including:
- Food processing
- Wood processing
- Agriculture
- Greenhouses
- Manufacturing
If you can answer yes, to at least some of these questions – a Biomass Boiler could be a good option for your business.
- Are you operating within 100km of a stable and sufficient biomass source to fuel your biomass boiler.
- Do you require an environmentally friendly alternative to an existing coal, natural gas, diesel, or LPG boiler.
- Is your electricity connection constrained or would it be costly or slow to upgrade? If so, a biomass boiler may be a better option than a heat pump or electrode boiler.
- Does your plant have a high load factor (boiler utilisation rate) and/or high peak loads (maximum operating heat demand), meaning that fuel costs need to be as low as possible.
- Is your existing coal boiler relatively new? Biomass boilers can be readily integrated into existing energy systems since the supply temperature and working fluid is generally identical to an equivalent coal or gas boiler.
- Do you have or need a multi-boiler site and are looking for a mix of different fuels (e.g. electric and biomass powered boilers) to give you greater energy security or flexibility?
- Do you have space to store (and keep dry) a sufficient supply of biomass to cover weekends and other transport issues?
- Do you require temperatures over 100°C? Biomass boilers are a good option for this vs below 100°C where electric heat pumps are more energy efficient.
Overall, biomass boilers offer a versatile and environmentally friendly heating solution for a wide range of industries, helping to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, lower energy costs, and limit the impacts on our environment.
If you’re interested in installing a biomass boiler for your plant or want to put in place a regular maintenance plan to ensure you maintain optimal efficiency, then give the EAS team a call today on 07 834 0505.
Photo source: EECA.govt.nz
Motor Control Centres
Motor Control Centres are the nerve centre of industrial automation and electrical distribution systems ensuring seamless operation of machinery and equipment in industrial and commercial environments.
A Motor Control Centre (MCC) is an assembly of one or more enclosed sections each containing components such as circuit breakers, contactors, overload relays and other components that help manage the power distribution, switching and protection of the electric motors in your system.
Benefits of Motor Control Centres (MCCs):
– Efficient power management
MCCs can include energy monitoring and management features to reduce energy consumption and improve motor performance – all contributing to overall energy efficienty and cost savings for your plant.
– Reduced down time through improved monitoring & maintenance
The modular design of MCCS makes it easier to access individual motor starters and components, simplifying maintenance tasks and reducing downtime. MCCs can also be equipped with advanced monitoring and diagnostic features such as remote monitoring, fault detection and predictive maintenance capabilities which all help optimise motor performance and can identify issues before they lead to unplanned downtime.
– Safety and protection of the motors in your system
MCCs incorporate safety features such as circuit breakers, overload protections and interlocking mechanisms which all improve the safety of motor operations protecting both your people and your equipment from electrical hazards.
– Convenient and organised way of managing power distribution
MCCs provide a centralised location for managing multiple motors, saving valuable floor space and making it easier for operators to monitor and manage motor operations from a single point.
Maintenance
To keep your MCC in peak condition, regular maintenance is essential. This should include:
– Inspections:
Regular visual inspections should be done to check for signs of damage, overheating, losse connection or corrosion of MCC components including motor starters, circuit breakers, wiring, busbars an insulation.
– Testing & Calibration:
Protective devices such as overload relays and circuit breakers should be tested and calibrated to ensure they will operate when needed.
– Connections:
Electrical connections should be checked periodically to ensure they are secure and free of corrosion. Loose connections can lead to overheating and electrical faults.
– Cleaning:
It is essential that the MCC enclosure and components are kept clean and free of dust to ensure all equipment operates at peak performance.
– Cooling Systems:
If your MCC is equipped with a ventialtion or cooling system then the fans, filters and airlow pathways should be checked to ensure proper ventialtion and cooling of the MCC components.
Motor Control Centres offer a complete solution for motor control and power distribution, combining convenience, safety, and efficiency for your plant.
If you’d like to investigate a MCC solution for your plant or put in place a regular maintenance programme for an existing MCC, get in touch with the EAS team today on 07 834 0505.
