Optimal metering plan in an energy efficiency project for a ferrochrome plant

Abstract

An accurate measurement of retrofitted loads is essential for the quantification of energy savings in an energy conservation measure project. This research presents an optimal meter placement approach to an ECM project in a ferrochrome plant. The ECM project is implemented in a selected plant in a ferrochrome production line in which three different types of loads are considered for retrofitting. The aim of this research is to minimize the metering costs associated with the measurement and verification process while satisfying the precision and accuracy requirements for the sampling and measurement plan. The metering costs are reduced by using two types of metering devices. One meter yields highly accurate data measurements, has superior functionality to the other meter and is consequently highly priced. Different sampling requirements for the ECM project are evaluated and an optimal solution is found by selecting a combination of inexpensive and expensive metering equipment. The proposed optimal meter placement configuration yields a combination of meters with the highest accuracy in the ECM and has the lowest cost.