Virtual Trainings offered by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Plants program are the online version of the multi-day workshops known as In-Plant (INPLTs) trainings. As with in-person training, the VTs will help attendees to identify energy efficiency and decarbonization opportunities, quantify savings from those opportunities, and implement projects to realize the savings.
These workshops also ensure attendees are familiar with working principles, best practices, and have the capability to analyze the energy performance of industrial energy systems. As of January 2024, DOE has hosted over 204 INPLTs with about 2,800 participants, helping to identify more than $65 million in energy cost savings opportunities. The Better Plants team piloted a cohort of Virtual Trainings (VTs) at the end of 2020 as a means of continuing these interactive training workshops during the pandemic. Due to strong partner interest, VTs are now offered year around for the same topics as are available in the in-person INPLTs. More than 1,600 people attended these VT sessions and over $11M energy savings opportunities have been identified.
The Better Plants program will deliver a Virtual Training on Industrial Steam Systems from October 2 to November 14, 2024. The Steam Systems VT will be performed by industrial experts and Technical Account Managers using online video communication technologies. The Steam Systems VT comprises 2.5 -hour online training sessions (2-hours formal training and optional 0.5-hour Q&A) that will be delivered on every other Wednesday and Thursday 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM ET for four weeks. Participating in the VTs is free and open to all US manufacturers.
Participants will be trained on industrial steam system fundamentals and undertaking of a system-specific energy assessment, including hands-on training on the Steam System Assessment Module within the Manufacturing Energy Assessment Software for Utility Reduction (MEASUR) tool. To maximize the benefits from attending VTs, homework assignments will be given to the participants at the end of each session and will be due by the next session. These homework assignments are designed to enhance participants’ understanding of industrial steam systems, as well as to identify and quantify energy savings opportunities in their respective plants. During the last session of the VT, participants are expected to create a summary presentation based on their assessment, present their findings, and share the scrubbed version with DOE.
At the completion of the VT, Professional Development Hours (PDHs) Certificates will be prepared for the attendees on demand basis. Participants are expected to collect measurements/data from their own process cooling systems, perform an energy assessment, and identify energy efficiency opportunities with the help from the instructor. To collect the assessment data, in some cases, diagnostic equipment will be arranged and shipped to the partners. The Better Plants diagnostic equipment is available on a first come, first serve basis to Better Plants Partners.
Oct 2 to Nov 14 2024; Every other Wednesday & Thursday 10:00AM–12:30PM ET (2.0-hour formal training + optional 0.5-hour Q&A)
Session 1 – Industrial Steam Systems Fundamentals and Introduction to SSST; Oct 2, 2024
Industrial Steam systems experts describe the overall process of conducting a Steam VT, explain the fundamentals of industrial steam systems and provide an overview of generation, distribution, end-use (including CHP) and recovery. VT attendees will also be introduced to the Steam System Scoping Tool (SSST).
Session 2 – Focus on Steam System Generation and Introduction to DOE’s MEASUR Tool; Oct 3, 2024
The focus of the session will be on steam system generation – understanding measurements needed to calculate direct and indirect boiler efficiency, estimate the magnitude of specific boiler losses – shell, blowdown, and stack losses. An industrial steam system will be used to demonstrate the calculators available within the MEASUR tool.
Session 3 – Steam System Generation & Cogeneration (CHP); Oct 16, 2024
Training experts will complete all remaining aspects of steam system generation and provide a basic understanding of evaluating cogeneration systems including back-pressure and condensing steam turbines and gas turbines with Heat Recovery Steam Generators (HRSG). Measurements needed and different efficiency metrics will be highlighted.
Session 4 – Steam System Distribution, End-Use & Condensate Recovery; Oct 17, 2024
Training experts will provide an understanding of the steam distribution system, end-use and condensate recovery. VT attendees will complete a baseline model of the example industrial system using the MEASUR tool.
Session 5 – Energy Efficiency Opportunities in the Generation Area; Oct 30, 2024
Training experts will discuss stack heat recovery, excess air combustion control, blowdown energy recovery, shell loss reduction, etc. VT attendees will be able to use the baseline model in MEASUR to do “what-if” analyses and quantify the benefits of each of the individual energy efficiency opportunities.
Session 6 – Energy Efficiency Opportunities in Cogeneration (CHP) Area; Oct 31, 2024
Training experts will discuss energy efficiency improvement and cost savings opportunities with back-pressure and condensing steam turbines. VT attendees will be able to use the baseline model in MEASUR to do “what-if” analyses and quantify the benefits.
Session 7 – Energy Efficiency Opportunities in Distribution, End-use and Condensate Recovery Areas; Nov 13, 2024
Training experts will demonstrate the use of the insulation evaluation software (3EPlus), steam trap management program, improving condensate recovery, low-pressure steam (waste heat) applications, etc. VT attendees will be able to use the baseline model in MEASUR to do “what-if” analyses and quantify the benefits.
Session 8 – Industrial Steam System VT Wrap-up Presentations; Nov 14, 2024
Over the past seven weeks, VT attendees have been provided homework that focused on the attendees building their own steam system model in MEASUR and then quantify applicable energy efficiency opportunities. VINPLT attendees will present and discuss the results from their virtual steam system assessment. VT participants could invite their upper management to attend the wrap-up session. Once completed, VT attendees are given a Certification of Completion from US DOE.
Mr. Riyaz Papar
Mr. Riyaz Papar is a registered Professional Engineer (ME), a Certified Energy Manager and a Fellow of ASME and ASHRAE. He is the CEO of C2A Sustainable Solutions, a company based in The Woodlands, Texas.
Mr. Papar is a US DOE Senior Instructor and a US DOE Qualified Specialist (Steam). Mr. Papar is also an Industrial Heating and Cooling System International Expert at United Nations Industrial Development Organization.
Mr. Papar has spent almost three decades in energy efficiency consulting for thermal systems – steam, cogeneration, waste heat recovery, chilled water and refrigeration. Using a systems approach methodology in thermal systems, he has completed ~150 energy assessments both in the US and internationally. Several of these energy assessments have resulted in implemented projects that have continued to save millions of dollars, valuable energy resources and reduced greenhouse gas emissions world-wide.
Mr. Papar has trained more than 7,500 industry personnel internationally. He has worked as Lead Instructor/Facilitator with multinational government and industrial agencies in South Africa, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, China, India, Kazakhstan, Egypt, Myanmar and Mauritius to disseminate this capacity building effort.
Mr. Papar has been an author of more than 50 Technical Publications in Journals, Conference Proceedings & Trade Magazines. Mr. Papar has also been an “Energy Saver” columnist for the Chemical Processing magazine published by PutmanMedia.
Mr. Papar has a Master’s (ME) from the University of Maryland, College Park and a Bachelor’s (ME) from the Indian Institute of Technology, Mumba
