DCS Dynamic Drive System – driving change in dust extraction
The DCS Dynamic Drive System was first trialled in 2007 and today boasts an impressive track record within wood-based manufacturing processes. Investing in energy-saving extraction plant reduces overheads and provides an attractive payback on the equipment installed. In addition to utilising Dynamic Drive Systems on new installations, we can readily retrofit the system to existing extraction plants, often without the need to replace any equipment or wiring.
In most existing systems, extraction fans run at a constant speed irrespective of the number of woodworking machines that are operating. They also run continuously throughout the period that the workshop is operational. We recognised that reducing the speed of a fan by just 10% would save around 27% in energy, but our challenge was to design complete dust extraction systems which would be dynamically responsive, providing optimum extraction volumes, only when needed.
The true potential of such ‘on-demand’ systems is determined by our on-site energy survey which assesses the specific extraction demand from each machine over a given period. For a typical medium-sized joinery shop, with a 30kW main fan and woodworking machines that are not all in use all of the time, the average volume reduction achieved by fitting a fully reactive system can result in power savings of between 40% and 60%. Assuming that a workshop operates 2500 hours per year, and the company is buying electricity at 10 pence/kilowatt-hour, this would deliver savings in electricity costs of around £3,750 per annum, on just one fan!
Our proposals also take into account the government’s Enhanced Capital Allowance scheme. Investing in this type of energy-saving initiative qualifies for government Enhanced Capital Allowances, whereby firms can write off the full cost against tax in the year of purchase and so benefit from the saving immediately instead of it trickling back through the next 10 years. |
