Engines

· Check if there are oversized engines and try to adequate them.

·  When replacing burnt or oversized engines, always choose a high-performance model.

· When the functioning mode of an engine is very variable, make adjustments by installing frequency inverters.

· Turn machine engines off when they are not operational.

·  Make periodical maintenance checks.

· Verify if the starters are adequate.

Lighting

· Use more efficient and adequate bulbs for each type of environment: sodium-vapour lamps, for example, are more efficient than mercury-vapour or blended lamps.

· Use good quality electronic reactors.

· Privilege mirrored lamps for fluorescent bulbs.

· Take advantage of natural light: translucent tiles, open windows, roofs and walls in light colours.

· Turn switches off every time a room is unoccupied.

· Keep just enough lights on for the company’s security.

Refrigeration

· Keep the rubber seals from cold chamber and freezer doors in good condition, completely closed.

· Seal the antechamber doors or use air curtains (rubber) when there is no antechamber.

· Always adjust the thermostat, keeping a constant storage temperature.

· For correct preservation, keep in the same chamber products that require similar temperatures, humidity levels and storage period.

· Defrost periodically or every time the ice layer reaches 1cm thickness as it works as insulation, hindering the heat exchange.

· Do not install condensers where solar rays can reach or near equipment that radiates heat, such as ovens or greenhouses.

General Electrical Equipment

· Whenever possible, use devices outside peak hours: from 5.30pm to 8.30pm.

· Whenever possible, install energy saving systems which, when people are absent from the environment, automatically switch off lights and air-conditioning.

Compressed Air

· Periodically check if there are internal leaks, excessive wear of the segment rings, valves and other compressor unit components.

· Always keep the drive belts adjusted.

· Try to install air admittance valves outside the engine room.

· Measure the piping of the route between compressors and the tank for a maximum loss of pressure of 0.08 kg/cm2 every 100m.

· Measure the piping of the route between the distribution tank and the furthest usage point for a maximum loss of pressure of 0.03 kg/cm2.

· Eliminate all existing leaks in the pipes.

· Remove all inactive secondary branches from the air distribution network.

· Use stop valves activated by solenoids on devices that operate intermittently.

· To prevent dragging the condensate, always install air intakes for secondary branches over the main pipes.

Electric Furnaces

· Use furnaces under the high productivity concept, that is, high specific power, high power harnessing and high time usage rate.

· Use alternative energy sources in parallel, such as residual fuel gases, oxy-fuel burners, use oxygen lances for decarburation, lime/foamy slag injections and post-combustion.

· Keep the bath agitation under strict control by using eletromagnetic stirrers and/or inert gases.

· Use the technique of furnace tapping through the base of the hearth.

· Whenever the production process allows, keep part of the liquid material without leaking the residue in the production of cast iron and steel.

· In ultra-high power furnaces, use ladle metallurgy.

· Use holding furnaces that carry a higher volume of liquid metal for the subsequent stages of the process.

· Recover the heat contained in the furnace’s exit gas for pre-heating or pre-heating and pre-reduction of the load.

Water Pumping

· Operate the pumps at better efficiency points.

· Avoid embedded pipes or with decanted solids as they significantly increase the loss of load and, by consequence, the manometric height and required power.

· Avoid the association, in parallel, of pumps with parabolic system curves that are too inclined and of slurry pumps with pulley and belt transmission systems.

· Check the existence of looseness between rotors and rings to avoid a reduction in volumetric performance.

· Use pipes with adequate diameters for suction and discharge.