Smart pumps at DTEK Ladyzhynska TPP will help save 31% of electricity

Electricity savings of 31% that will be used to power a pump station have been reached following the automation of clarified water pumping at DTEK Ladyzhynska TPP. A smart 630 kW/6kV frequency converter automatically controls water pressure at a reference point, adjusts pump load, and gives operating personnel a “hint” when the composition of working equipment has to be change.

An energy-efficient project for the installation of a frequency converter was financed and implemented by DTEK ESCO. The new equipment will help DTEK Ladyzhynska TPP make annual savings of 2.3 mln kW*h consumed in-house for the amount of more than UAH 5 mln per year. Environmental effect: CO2 emissions will be reduced by 2 thousand tonnes per year, - commented Yaroslav Kazmyruk, the Project Management Department Director at DTEK ESCO.

The 630 kW/6kV frequency converter facilitates automated operation of four pumps at a clarified (clean) water facility. The facility supplies the TPP with water used to remove ash and slag waste resulting from coal burning, and then returned into a production cycle following its filtration.

“This is the eighth energy-efficient project that has been implemented at our plant by DTEK ESCO. A frequency converter prevented excessive consumption of electricity by automatically adjusting the rotation frequency of a pump depending on pressure thus improving the reliability of operations, reducing breakdowns, and preventing hydraulic shocks. The reliability of the TPP operations will increase”, - said Ihor Snehin, director of DTEK Ladyzhynska TPP.

“This is the first time that we have used a 630 kW/6kV frequency converter. In addition to making energy savings, the objective of the project is to get experience of using frequency converters at high-voltage equipment. By investing in the project, DTEK ESCO secured its success and the achievement of economies by assuming all the risks. The company has already installed frequency converters at our drinking water supply units, a sewerage station, a condensate reservoir, etc. All these projects produce electricity savings ranging from 30% to 50%”, - commented Dmytro Savoliuk, an energy manager and a supervisor of the equipment tuning and testing workshop at DTEK Ladyzhynska TPP.

“Frequency converters installed at large industrial facilities offer tremendous potential. Normally, in-house energy managers already know the needs for such equipment. However, it is a regular occurrence that companies are unable to finance projects where a payback period can be several years and to guarantee that new equipment will be incorporated in a production cycle and work properly. An energy service mechanism helps overcoming these barriers if the management and power engineers show initiative”, - explained Serhii Chulkov, DTEK ESCO`s CEO.