Lesson 6 - Electricity
In this lesson we take a closer look at electricity from a utilities perspective. We will review the basics of electricity and consider the different forms (direct current and alternating current, single phase, and three phase) and voltages. The basic reticulation systems within the brewery will also be covered
Maximum Demand
Maximum demand is an indication of the peak electrical demand over a short period of time.
Maximum demand is firstly important because main electricity suppliers have an extra charge based on the maximum demand. It is normally calculated as the average demand over a short period of time. This is done because the suppliers have to install infrastructure in order to supply electricity and have to plan to cater for all their customers. If peak demands coincide, this results in them running out of capacity.
Secondly, the internal infrastructure required for your electricity is normally designed for a certain capacity. Larger capacities require thicker cables and more electrical equipment.
So how do we manage maximum demand?
Consider a typical brewery and provide some suggestions for managing maximum demand. Give yourself 5-10 min to think about this, and then click ’Next’ to continue with this lesson.