Page 14 - Boiler plant and distribution system optimization manual

Introduction

This book has been designed to make the job of boiler plant optimization at your facility
simple and understandable. This book was written for the plant manager, boiler design
engineer, energy engineer, plant operators, troubleshooters and anyone else interested in
improving the efficiency of combustion processes.
One of the most productive ways to improve efficiency and profits is to expertly
manage the energy costs of utilities, especially in the cost of boiler fuel. Managing an
efficient plant involves a different viewpoint from normal day to day plant operations.
Unfortunately, operational challenges seem more urgent than managing energy efficiently.
One old timer put it well when he said, “improving plant efficiency is not a necessity but
keeping it running is a necessity.”
Most plant personnel focus on the important job of running a dependable plant. They
might need help seeing the challenge from the viewpoint of saving energy and reducing
fuel expenses. That’s what this book is about.
Why is this so important? The answer lies in the fact that your company has to earn
the money it pays for fuel from the sale of some product or service. There are large expenses
involved in production of these products or services and it makes no sense to waste these
efforts in the boiler plant with huge hidden costs from wasted energy.
Let’s examine the situation from another viewpoint. Suppose the net profit of your
operation is 5% and that when you have followed some of the suggestions in this book, you
discover you can save your company more than $250,000 a year in reduced fuel costs. How
much is this really worth? Well, it’s about five million dollars. There are a lot of people who
would be handsomely rewarded if they could boost annual sales by five million dollars.
When you produce “cost avoidance” by increasing the productivity and efficiency of your
plant, you are doing the same thing when the bottom line is examined. Avoided costs means
profits and profits keep your company in business, assuring you a job into the future. It just
may be that your management of boilers and energy systems may have more to do with the
success of your company than you have been lead to believe.
How do you get this job done? It seems like it could be a highly technical matter which
demands a tremendous amount of time, knowledge and experience with boiler plants and
distribution systems. Actually, if this challenge is approached properly, it does not need to
be complex or difficult. Read on and discover for yourself.

Harry R . Taplin, Jr ., P .E ., CEM

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