ESOS an opportunity for pump users, says Watson-Marlow

ESOS came into force on 17 July 2014. In essence, the scheme is a mandatory energy assessment and energy saving identification scheme for large undertakings and their corporate groups. Some 14,000 enterprises are affected in the UK, all of which have to file an energy audit delivered by one of around 500 registered auditors, no later than 5 December 2015 or risk fines ranging from 5000 to 50,000.

ESOS Energy Audits have the potential to increase businesses profitability and competitiveness by identifying cost-effective savings which, if implemented, will improve energy efficiency. Although there is no obligation to implement the recommendations that arise from the audit, plants that pass up the opportunity are ignoring the chance to improve their bottom line.

The scheme is estimated to lead to 1.6 billion of net benefits to the UK. According to UK government figures, plants implementing the suggested changes will make back some 13.5 times the initial investment.

Among the technologies set to offer the biggest rewards in relation to ESOS audits, are pumps. According to the BPMA (British Pump Manufacturers' Association), pumps account for no less than 10 per cent of the world's electricity consumption, and two-thirds of pumps use up to 60 per cent too much power. With this in mind, ESOS auditors are likely to check the age, condition and size of any pumps installed to get an indication of the scope for savings. A subsequent recommendation would be to perform a specific assessment of the pumps to check their efficiency.

It is estimated that pumping system improvements can deliver up to 40 per cent reduction in energy costs, possibly even more in the case of viscous fluids. Typically, the torque required to drive a pump increases in line with viscosity, thus resulting in the need for large electrical motors. Larger motors draw more power, even when not operating at capacity. The BPMA says that on industrial sites, an average of two-thirds of the electricity cost can be attributed to running electric motors.

The good news is that Sine pumps are not affected by viscosity in the same way as lobe pumps and circumferential piston pumps. As a consequence, they can use smaller motors, a factor that has made them popular choices in the food, beverage and cosmetics industries, as well as in the chemicals and pharmaceuticals sectors. Ultimately, sine pumps offer up to 50 per cent less energy consumption for the same flow, compared with other pump types.

Efficiency gains

To help show the benefits of the latest sine pump technology, Watson-Marlow is offering plants a free trial of MasoSine pumps to assess the efficiency gains available, first hand. It is hoped the move will help those affected by ESOS to make the right decisions moving forward.

Watson-Marlow can also provide a set of calculations, known as Mee (MasoSine Energy Efficiency) curves, which show the potential reductions in energy consumption, and how energy savings rise in line with viscosity.

Mee curves have been developed from extensive research as a tool to help identify the correct size of pump and drive, and thus save money for the customer. They show how many kilowatts of power are required for a motor to run a particular application (relative to varying viscosities), as well as the efficiency of the pump.

For those interested in finding out more, Watson-Marlow is publishing a paper that outlines why Mee curves are a useful and proven way of demonstrating that sine pump technology can deliver significant user benefits in comparison with competing technologies. The paper will be published Autumn 2015. Go to www.wmpg.com for further information.