Sparks Electrical News September 2017

CONTRACTORS’ CORNER

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SELF-GENERATED POWER NEEDS SPECIAL FOCUS ON EFFICIENCY

R emote projects that are far from national power grids will tend to pay a premium for generating their own energy; so they need to plan carefully to use it as efficiently as they can. This is the advice of Zest WEG Group CEO Louis Meiring, who emphasises the opportunities pre- sented by modern technology to reduce energy consumption in just about any industrial or mining enterprise. “Savings of 3 to 5% of energy consumed on site are a realistic target for most projects, especially if the enabling technologies and equipment can be incorporated into the design at an early stage,” says Meiring. “As a group that offers power generation

tribute to overall project efficiency. “In addition to ensuring the right power genera- tion solution for customers, we enhance our value- add through our knowledge of exactly how the generated energy can be best used,” says Gerrard. “WEG’s high efficiency, IE3 rated motors, for in- stance, can reduce the power consumed in a range of industrial functions such as pumping, conveyor systems and ventilation.” Zest Energy recently installed a turnkey diesel power generation facility for the Balama graphite project in a remote region of Mozambique. Tech- nology options such as variable speed drives can further enhance efficiencies and reduce the con- sumptive demands that a standalone power plant will have to meet; regeneration strategies also low- er costs by feeding power back into the network. “There is also potential for ‘heat and power’ co- generation as an efficiency strategy,” says Gerrard, “where heat can be drawn off equipment like en- gines to feed back into plant functions, rather than being dissipated with no benefit.” He sees a trend among many industrial users towards pursuing higher energy efficiencies, as this can improve the cost-per-hour of running their assets and lead to a reduction in emissions by using more efficient technologies. “There is also a growing interest in hybrid solutions that can incorporate renewable energy sources like solar and wind, alongside traditional fossil fuels,” says Gerrard. A wide footprint across Africa – including its own entities in Namibia, Zambia, Tanzania, Mo- zambique and Ghana – allows the Gauteng-based Zest WEG Group to implement and service pro- jects to high standards. NORCOMP INDUSTRIAL MICRO- MINIATURE CONNECTORS T he Micro-D connector series from Nor- comp offers a real alternative to military- spec connectors in industrial applications. The 380/381/382/960 series of Micro-D con- nectors and cable assemblies has been designed for commercial markets including robotics, tel- ecommunications and instrumentation equipment, and applications where space is at a premium yet a robust shielded I/O connector system is required. The Norcomp Micro-D series is available in three industry-standard sizes – 9, 15 and 25-way – as well as in vertical and right angle board-mount and cable-mount options. Offering a contact spac- ing of 1.27 mm (0.050-inch), the connectors are less than a third of the size of standard D-sub con- nector types, yet deliver a metal-to-metal interface that provides robust mechanical connection and shield effectiveness. Able to mate with most commercial competitor products, other features of the series include a 1 A contact rating and an operating temperature range of –55 C to +85 °C. The Norcomp range of industrial Micro-D con- nectors is available from RS Components. Enquiries:+27 (0)11 723 6000

solutions as well as energy efficiency technologies, we can readily identify and quantify the efficiency benefits for customers.” He says the potential savings lie not only in the operating cost of the standalone power generating facility, but in the capital expenditure for construc- tion, as better utilisation efficiencies can reduce the maximum output capacity required from the plant. Alastair Gerrard, managing director of Zest Ener- gy, says his company – which specialises in power supply solutions – works closely with EPCMs or directly with customers to plan and implement op- timal solutions. This approach ensures that equip- ment life cycle costs are well controlled and con-

The custom engineered diesel generator set solution for Syrah Resources' Balama graphite project.

Enquiries: za.rs-online.com

Micro-D connector series.

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

SEPTEMBER 2017