The Durban Branch departed from its usual first Wednesday of each month and held the last Technology Evening on 20 July so that Evan Dent could be available to make a very professional presentation on Energy Monitoring and Targeting in Utilities. Evan is a senior member of the SAIMC and is currently the business development manager at Endress+Hauser South Africa.
John Owen-Ellis congratulating Evan Dent on his presentation
In his presentation, Evan showed how to construct a monitoring and targeting strategy that is capable of producing remarkable energy savings in utilities in industrial processes, notably those of generating and distributing compressed air and steam. He took the audience through the process from the basics of energy policy, examples of potential savings, through to the three key elements of an automatic Monitoring and Targeting solution (aM+T) and investigated the concept of Energy Accountable Centres (EACs). His emphasis on the need for attention to the working principle of mass flow instrumentation required in order to achieve energy savings was of particular relevance. This aspect is often sacrificed in an effort to reduce up-front project costs, which, if not done correctly, can make any subsequent strategy ineffective and ruin its potential payback.
Evan used examples of typical utility systems while considering monitoring solutions as a cycle combined with the savings strategies and the method of targeting, benchmarking, reporting and action to realise sustainable savings. The meeting was pleasantly surprised to learn that there is an increasing number of industrial organisations in South Africa that have already embarked on programmes of this type.
Changing the meeting date proved to be a good decision and the talk was followed by some enjoyable and animated networking over delicious beef and onion pie and drinks, kindly sponsored by Endress+Hauser.
Rob Mackenzie – MD of E+H (right) seen enjoying his dinner
New corporate sponsor
Those present at the Technology Evening would have noticed the new SAIMC banner proudly on display. ICA is the first corporate sponsor this year and any other companies wishing to take advantage of this premier opportunity should please contact the Durban branch committee.
Vinesh Maharaj thanks Mark Calvert from ICA for its sponsorship
Forthcoming attractions
The next Technology Evening will be hosted by Alpret so join us to listen to a specialist speaker on the subject of machinery optimisation and management.
When: Wednesday 7 September – 17h30 for 18h15.
Where: Westville Country Club
1 Link Road, Westville.
Please contact Jane van der Spuy with any queries +27 (0)31 764 0593 or [email protected]
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