Invertek helps MAS Fabric Park cut energy bills

Harsha Deraniyagala, Deputy General Manager for Hydro & Environment at the park which is situated in Thulhiriya, said: “We are delighted with the results as the Invertek installation is already returning an OPEX saving of about Rs. 4.5 Million/annum and the costs entailed will be paid back in just a ten-month period.

“Before the CETP-VFD project was implemented, about 3,000 kWh/day was being consumed and this figure had now come down to less than 2,000 KWh/day while having no effect on the dissolved oxygen levels in the deep aeration tanks are still well within stipulated limits,” he added.

Anushka Chandrasoma, Application Engineer at Hayleys Industrial Solutions (Pvt) Ltd, Invertek’s sales partner in Sri Lanka, said: “The Park had four 22 kW rated re-circulation pumps fixed inside the deep aeration tanks with motors running for a minimum of 22 hours per day and the customer wanted to save at least 25% of the present consumption by fitting VFDs to them. 

“We were also asked to fit VFDs for 75 kW rated aeration blower and one 11kw high lift pump, which again were running for up to 20 hours per day.

“I am delighted our installation had been able to achieve such fantastic results in such a quick period of time and it confirms that Invertek’s VFDs really are one of the best options for companies wanting to make immediate and significant savings in their energy usage which they will continue to benefit from for many years.

“We are planning to showcase the success of this installation to other companies working in the HVAC sector and this will support us as we continue to develop the market for Invertek’s VFDs in Sri Lanka,” he added.

Harsha added: “We were delighted with the efficiency of the whole operation and the fact the work was completed to deadline without any need for our Park customers to suffer any shutdowns.

“This is particularly important as the Sri Lankan textile and apparel industry is a pivotal driver in the country’s employment levels and utilises 15% of work labour available as well as servicing some of the biggest apparel brands in the world such as Nike, Victoria's Secret, Ann Taylor and Marks and Spencer.

“We are now considering a similar installation at our sister plant where there is also room for energy savings as high capacity motors and currently being used and we won’t hesitate to use Invertek’s VFDs again,” he added.

Dylan Davies, Invertek’s Product Manager, said: “This installation used our popular Optidrive Eco variable frequency drives which have been designed to provide maximum operating efficiency while minimising environmental impact.

“Accurate speed control and an energy optimisation function made this the perfect choice for the Park which is already reaping the benefits from lower energy consumption meaning the park will soon see payback for the cost of the drives and their installation, ensuring another happy customer,” he added.