Examination of Energy Efficiency Increasing Measures in an Automobile Assembly Plant

Abstract

In this study, energy consumption analysis was performed in a car assembly plant (Body-inWhite (BiW) productions, painting processes, chassis and accessory assembly processes). Examined automobile assembly plant has a production capacity of 200,000 vehicles per year by working six days a week and three shifts a day. Highly energy consuming processes are determined. Energy efficiency increasing opportunities in energy consuming systems (paint shop, drying ovens, compressed air, heating and cooling systems) and effects of current automotive assembly techniques on energy efficiency are examined. Most of the total energy in the studied plant is consumed in the paint shop. Considering annual energy consumption; paint shop is responsible for the %50 of total electrical energy and %70 of total natural gas consumption. Specific energy consumption of plant is calculated as 853 kWh (SET); 275 kWh for electricity consumption (SETe ), and 578 kWh for natural gas (SETdg ). By performing determined energy efficiency measures; SET of plant will reduce %1 for the SETe , and %5,7 for SETdg

Keywords

• Automobile assembly plant
• Energy efficiency
• Specific energy consumption (SEC)
• Energy saving potential
• Paint shop