Factory demonstration energy efficiency of powered hand tools. Final report

Technical Report ·

OSTI ID:7065347

The results of a field demonstration program to determine the relative energy efficiencies of different types of powered hand tools used under actual operating conditions are presented. Three manufacturing plants in different geographical locations, dealing primarily in three diverse operations, were equipped with alternate air and electric tool systems. These systems included energy converters, distribution systems, matched tools and all energy measurement and reporting instrumentation. Under normal, day-to-day, operating conditions the different tool systems were employed for periods of time sufficient to collect statistically reliable data on energy consumption. The basic conclusion of this work is that, in the applications studied, dedicated pneumatic tool systems will average more than thirteen times as much energy as high cycle electric tool systems powered by rotary frequency converters while performing the same tasks. Conventional plant air systems may use, by comparison, more power per unit work achieved. Moreover, when chosen carefully and applied properly, the electric tools sometimes equal or outperform their pneumatic counterparts in terms of productivity, cost effectiveness, and user acceptance. However, any alteration of tooling entails complex subjective factors and customs so that effecting changes can risk, at least temporary, decreases in productivity.

• Research Organization: Varigas Research, Inc., Timonium, MD (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-79CS40297
• OSTI ID: 7065347
• Report Number(s): DOE/CS/40297-T1; ON: DE84004840
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320303* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Equipment & Processes
AIR
COMPRESSED AIR
COMPRESSED GASES
COMPRESSORS
DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEMS
DRILLING EQUIPMENT
DRILLS
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRIC POWER
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
EQUIPMENT
FLUIDS
GASES
MOTORS
PERFORMANCE
PNEUMATIC MOTORS
POWER
POWER SUPPLIES
PUBLIC OPINION
TOOLS