PURSUING THE LIMITS IN ENERGY CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES FOR BOILER OPERATIONS

摘要

Boilers are one of the major sources of energy consumption in automotive plants, the majority of which are assembly plants. Energy expenditures for boilers at Tsutsumi plant are as high as 10 percent of total energy costs, so we have been actively engaged in improvements in energy conservation as one of the activity themes. The current report discusses four major areas where efforts have been made to carry energy conservation activities regarding boiler operations to their ultimate limits:(1)Clarification of the difference in the skills of boiler operators, and measures to improve skills when they were lacking.(2)The reduction of steam pressure and the preparation of detailed plans for steam supply.(3)The use of heat imagery to analyze heat loss and determine maintenance intervals.(4)The use of PCs to monitor steam pressure as noted in item(2) above, and the development of technology to enact condition controls. Improvement activities were begun in this area in July of 1994, and have continued for three years. In February of 1998, we were awarded the "Minister of International Trade and Industry Award" from the Energy Conservation Center, Japan for our 1997 activities in the field of energy conservation.