Semester

Summer

Date of Graduation

2014

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MS

College

Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Department

Industrial and Managements Systems Engineering

Committee Chair

Bhaskaran Gopalakrishnan

Committee Co-Chair

Robert C. Creese

Committee Member

Shawn T. Grushecky

Abstract

Energy intensity is an important aspect to wood products producing sawmills in the State of West Virginia. This research aims to facilitate the accurate measurement of electrical energy intensity in sawmills by means of energy analysis and diagnostics using various data acquisition devices on electrical motors used in the manufacturing processes. Close to 90% of the electrical energy used in a typical sawmill is consumed by motors alone. The energy intensity determination is being accomplished by data collection with respect to electrical energy consumption parameters as well as production parameters. The electrical energy consumption was recorded on all the major motors in three sawmills for a period of one month. The recorded data were analyzed with respect to the production volume and the specific energy consumption for different size lumber of varying species was developed. The specific energy allocation for different size lumber was done based on the surface area cut to manufacture that lumber. The specific energy consumption of a particular size lumber has been compared with respect to different species. The specific energy consumption of different size lumber of the same species was developed. Sawmills can evaluate the impact of their production decisions on energy consumption using the results of this research. Energy consumption of different size and species was compared among three sawmills. Specific energy consumption of hardwood species in sawmill 1 for 4/4 lumber is varying from 124 kwh to 170 kWh per 1,000 board feet, where as in sawmill 2 it is varying from 79 kwh to 118 kWh and in sawmill 3 it is varying from 90 kwh to 145 kWh. Further, results of the energy assessment conducted in each sawmill would save on average 12% of energy consumption at current operation. Finally, productivity improvement that can be achieved by sawing high quality logs and using new saw blade technologies were discussed.

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