Enhanced energy-efficient parallel pumping using variable speed drive (VSD) technology

Abstract

Global economic meltdown appears to be a new phenomenon in this 21 st century because worldwide poor financial situation seemed forgotten after the Great Depression of the 1930s. However, energy crisis has been a common worldwide issue and challenge since the October 1973 war in the Middle East which triggered the first of two waves of energy-price increases in the 1970s. That event catapulted the debate about energy and conservation, from its obscure beginnings, in academic and policy circles to sudden public prominence. The recent co-incidence of South Africa's energy crisis with the global financial crisis was a double tragedy. The main reason for the 2007 to 2008 energy crisis in South Africa was the imbalance between electricity supply and demand Globally about 40% of industrial electricity is consumed by Electric Motor-Driven Systems (EMDS) and South African estimates are around 60%. Pumping systems are crucial industrial EMDS and their energy demand ranges from 25% to 50% of the energy usage in certain industrial plant operations. In South Africa, an estimated 15% of generated electrical power is consumed by pumping systems.