May 18, 2008

Case Studies

Into a nuclear power plant with B&B Electronics 802.15.4 wireless

U.S Department of Energy chimes in on improving motor efficiencies via 802.15.4 wireless sensors

eWireless Connections Newsletter

Following the spirit of the free-wheeling and immensely popular eConnections newsletter, B&B Electronics is launching a new companion newsltter devoted to wireless data communications - eWireless Connections.

eWC will provide frank analyses of the emerging wireless technologies in Bluetooth, WiFi 802.11, ZigBee 802.15.4, WiMax 802.16 and whatever else appears on the wireless horizon. We'll talk about the practical uses of these new communication systems - direct and to the point - no marketing hype.

U.S. Department of Energy chimes in on improving motor efficiencies
via 802.15.4 wireless sensors

Are power generation plants and the high horsepower industrial motors they feed a major waste of our critical energy supplies? That’s the topic of a 3-year study by the U.S. Department of Energy. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, GE Global Research and Sensicast Systems are partners in the study.

The three organizations joined forces to create an embedded motor sensor system to predict failures, monitor energy usage, monitor load conditions, and improve maintenance strategy.

As the condition of these generators and motors deteriorates, their efficiency degrades at a rapid rate. By keeping power station generators and high horsepower electric motors at peak efficiency, theDOE projects energy savings exceeding 120 trillion BTUs.

Combined with power quality measures, the temperature and vibration signals show whether the motors are operating normally or dropping in efficiency, long before they fail.

“Electric motor driven systems consume 23 percent of all electricity used in the United States — a truly staggering number,” stated Paul Sereiko, president of Sensicast. “Improving these motors’ efficiency is a real world example of technology making a significant difference.”