ABB variable speed drives have replaced damper control on induced draft fans and secondary air fans at Valorsul’s waste-to-energy plant in Portugal, resulting in an annual energy saving of nearly €240,000. The drives provide accurate and reliable process control, reduce maintenance costs, and lower CO2 emissions.
This case note explains how Valorsul replaced damper control on six induced‑draft and secondary‑air fans with ABB ACS 2000 variable speed drives. The drives were installed directly to line voltage (6.4 kV) without an input isolation transformer, simplifying the plant’s electrical infrastructure.
The upgrade lowered daily energy consumption from 153.6 MWh to 144 MWh, delivering annual savings of about €240,000 and cutting CO₂ emissions by roughly 4.5 tons per day. Additional benefits include reduced maintenance, lower investment costs, space savings, and smoother integration with existing systems.
| Rated power | 700 kW |
|---|---|
| Connection type | Direct‑to‑line |
| Cooling | Air cooling |
| Inverter type | Multilevel voltage source inverter (VSI) |
| Motor type | Induction motor |
The upgrade resulted in an annual energy saving of about €240,000.
The daily energy savings reduced CO₂ emissions by about 4.5 tons per day.