MRO Today - Time is gas

Time is gas: Ethanol plant builder uses integrated switchboards to reduce construction time and costs

As gas prices soar, so does the need for ethanol. ICM Inc., of Colwich, Kansas designs, builds and supports ethanol plants. ICM technology is featured in two out of three plants being built in North America today.

To help meet the demand for more efficient, higher-output and more profitable ethanol plants, ICM uses GE Consumer & Industrial’s integrated switchboards (ISBs).

ICM began integrating GE ISBs in its plant designs and construction projects in Summer 2004 with the construction of East Kansas Agri Energy in Garnett, Kansas, and Prairie Horizon Agri Energy in Philipsburg, Kansas.

“Every hour saved in the construction of our plants results in significant time and money savings for our energy clients,” says Robert Andersen, a project manager for ICM who supervises dozens of ethanol plant constructions each year. “Our customers experience quick ROI with their ISB investment thanks to its easy installation, low-maintenance and space-saving features.”

Little footprint, big results
GE ISBs are designed to do everything separate pieces do in only half the space, freeing up real estate for better, more profitable uses.

“The space saved by the ISB allows us to place equipment previously located on the plant floor in the area we had been using for panel boards and dry type transformers when mounted in the traditional method,” Andersen says.

With just one complete unit to install, Andersen says ICM saves countless hours of work spent receiving, conducting inventory checks and scheduling.

“We deliver the integrated switchboard in one shipment,” says Barry Robbins, GE account manager. “Since the ISB is pre-wired before it leaves the GE factory, the customer uses less conduit and cable, saving on material costs and creating a compact unit for our customers to interact with.”

“Prior to purchasing ISBs for our plants, we relied on traditional panel boards and dry types with conventional layouts,” Andersen says. “The old switchgear required each piece — transformers, power and lighting panels and lighting contactors — to be installed separately. This took more time and cost more compared with GE’s integrated switchboard, which is free standing and doesn’t require mounting to a wall.”

The ISB is also easy to operate — everything is in one centralized location.

“We can efficiently control power to lights and motors,” Andersen adds. “And, since we’ve installed and used the ISB in our plants, we’ve seen no defects and the quality has been excellent.”
According to GE’s Robbins, the installed cost of an ISB from GE can be significantly lower than the installed cost for traditional panel boards and dry type transformers.

“Every plant we build has a new efficiency to help increase ethanol output,” Andersen says. “The ISB is part of our plant-building innovation and evolution.” Item 152

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