Energy efficiency improvement in the cement industry

There are numerous opportunities to improve energy efficiency and reducing the effects of harmonic distortion in cement manufacturing power distribution systems. The first step is to choose the most energy efficient equipment, not necessarily choosing the most inexpensive machinery. The second step is to apply modern technologies to the power distribution systems for the equipment. Active harmonic filters and power factor correction conditioners automatically follow changing load conditions, resulting in energy cost reduction. Studies at the Power Electronics Application center in Knoxville, TN, have shown that harmonics and low power factor do create voltage and power losses in cables, contactors, and transformers reducing system capacity and waste energy. Power system modeling, awareness of which technologies to use is necessary to reduce energy costs. Analysis tools are being developed to assist design engineers to optimize system efficiency.