Wireless systems able to monitor and perform diagnostics on motors used in industrial processes could improve production efficiency by 10 percent to 20 percent, according to Wayne Manges of Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Industrial Technologies Program. "With electric motor-driven systems accounting for nearly one-fourth of all electricity consumption in the United States, the potential for savings is huge," Manges said. While Industrial Technologies Program partners are releasing new wireless sensor technology expected to eclipse previous successes, Manges noted that worldwide standards are needed to promote market acceptance and to accelerate the use of wireless sensors, and that ORNL has a long tradition of supporting the standards development process. Cost savings with wireless systems are substantial, as running wire in plants costs between $160 and $4,000 per foot. The typical payback is about six months for a wireless system vs. 23 months for wired. This research is funded by the Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
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