May 2004 : Newsletter

Both Ends of the Building

As a supplier of building connectivity technology, we sometimes are deluged with assorted facility operations applications that customers, and prospective customers, send to us for consideration. In addition to providing connectivity with existing building systems, we occasionally deliver solutions for ancillary facility systems. Providing connectivity and management of small to medium size generation facilities is an application that consistently returns to us for encores. The ability of EnFlex to actively and efficiently control facility generation systems in concert with the management of other site operations provides unsurpassed value to our customers.

We look forward to continuing to provide products and application expertise to our customers for both existing and new applications.

Gerry and David

Distributed Generation

Over the last 12 years EnFlex has been incorporated into projects utilizing technology from many of the leading suppliers of distributed generation (DG) equipment. EnFlex Site Control Servers (SCS) have been used to supervise the operation of a variety of reciprocating engine generators, micro-turbines, fuel cells, and even solar systems. EnFlex provides reliable, consistent, bidirectional performance and control information for all of these systems. The following are a few of the projects implemented using EnFlex technologies:`

• The installation of two 60 kW Capstone microturbines at a wine processing and aging facility to provide back-up power and peak shaving capability. In this cutting edge application, the microturbine waste heat is used as the energy source for a low temperature adsorption refrigeration system for both HVAC and process cooling. EnFlex SCS’s provide control and monitoring of the microturbines through our Modbus driver. In addition, a separate SCS provides tank monitoring and setpoint control to process controllers (through our LonWorks driver). HVAC control and monitoring is accomplished using an SCS with networked IO modules. Finally, the SCS’s provide the network infrastructure for a number of BTU meters; allowing the winery to meter energy consumption at the processing vats.
• A 1 mW solar energy plant is a significant rooftop structure. EnFlex monitors the performance of this impressive and well documented alternative energy project (see http://www.co.alameda.ca.us/srjp/caseStudy.PDF for more information) atop the Santa Rita, CA, jail. The EnFlex SCS provides the interface between the solar system and the building control systems. If a cloud blows over on a partly cloudy day, the supply of electricity from the solar system dips, the EnFlex SCS respond to this dip and modulate the demand for energy by shedding preprogrammed loads.
  
• The installation of a cogeneration project at a major California citrus processing plant is a significant investment. For a plant producing over 2.5 MW of generation on site, accurate system monitoring is essential for assuring the financial performance of this investment. EnFlex SCS’s (with an EnFlex Modbus driver) monitor a network of diesel generators. Engine performance and power production data along with steam, chilled water, and hot water readings are delivered to enterprise software operated by a major ESCO.