Energy Efficient Elevators and Technologies

An Overview

Rohan Sirsi Danesh Kamath

Corporate Research & Development Corporate Research & Development
Schindler India pvt. Ltd. Schindler India pvt. Ltd.
Pune, India – 410501 Pune, India – 410501
[email protected] [email protected]
[email protected]

Abstract—This paper is an overview of most advances in II. ELEVATOR COMPONENTS

elevator technology and energy efficient technologies used in
elevators. Nowadays, elevator is the essential element that makes Daily power consumption of elevator occurs in major
it useful to live and work more than a few floors above ground. components of the elevator system. Certain components are
Researchers have put their efforts mostly toward studying the listed below which play vital role in energy consumption.
feasibility of implementing energy efficient technologies in
elevator system in order save the overall power consumption of the
a. Machine
building. In addition, different methods and novel techniques on b. Drive
elevator technologies have also been highlighted in this paper. c. Controller
d. Power Supply
Keywords—Energy Consumption, Energy Conservation, e. User Interfaces
Energy Savings, Energy Storage, Power Consumption. f. Doors
g. Car
I. INTRODUCTION
These components were tested on an elevator system and
Presently, saving energy in electrical systems is likely to be the power consumption were noted. Referring to the Pareto
one of the key aspects concerning sustainable development. As Chart in Fig. 1 the list of components starting from the highest
the population upsurges, the usage of elevator system will tend energy consumption are shown and can be concluded that the
to escalate swiftly. Remarkably, determination to belittle machine and drive are the foremost components contributing to
energy consumption tends to vitiate the system performance as energy contribution. On other hand, there are other components
well. Hence, there is a rising requirement for optimization in in the elevator system, like user interfaces, communication
terms of energy factor and performance. equipment, sensor systems, they consume negligible power
(less than 1%).
For the movement of elevator different mechanisms have
been involved. In recent years, traction elevators became
extensively ubiquitous. The car, in traction elevators, is
suspended by ropes which are wrapped around a sheave driven
by an electric motor. The car weight is balanced by a
counterweight that is sum of mass of the car and approximately
50% of the rated load. The primary intent of the counterweight
is to guarantee that a steady potential energy is kept up in the
framework.
There are two types of traction elevators: 1) Geared type,
which is usually utilized in applications such as mid-rise where
high speed is not a key feature and a reduction gear is made use
of to lessen the motor speed. 2) Gearless type which is having
utility in high rise applications where the motor straightaway
drives the sheave thus abolishing the losses in the gear. In this
case, the speed of the motor and sheave are same.
The main intention of the counterweight balance is to assure
adequate rigidity to be kept in the suspension system. It
guarantees ample traction between ropes or belts and drive Fig. 1. Pareto chart denoting elevator components with highest energy
consumption.
sheave. In addition, it preserves a close constant level of
potential energy in the system collectively, greatly decreasing In addition, other condition for calculating energy
energy consumption. consumption are performed – Idle condition and Stand-by

978-1-5386-4318-1/17/$31.00 ©2017 IEEE

condition (stand-by for 5 minutes and for 30 minutes is for compensating the variations happening in the voltage of
considered here) – where has been shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 supercapacitor during charging and discharging. This power
that elevator in former condition, the elevator controller has converter provides bidirectional flow of energy under soft
higher power consumption when compared with drive and commutation techniques and helps in achieving good
reverse in the later condition which is stand-by. efficiency.
Oyarbide et.al in [2], the authors have used an existing idea
of an inverter based recovery approach used by all lift
manufacturers and have proposed a new method. It is the
development of a stand-alone ultra-capacitor based plug & play
device. The detail description about the new device and its
operation have been mentioned so just for brevity the device
has energy recovery feature, ability to reduce the power peak
consumed by the line. This setup was tested for a three-floor
elevator and the resulted to be more efficient compared to the
existing installations. An overall efficiency of 83% can be
assured. All in all, the paper discusses that in the existing
elevator installation this modification can lead to improved
efficiency in the elevator system.
IV. ENERGY EFFIECIENT TECHNOLOGIES
Muhammad et.al in [3], the authors have developed
different controller algorithms – Constant Speed which is taken
Fig. 2. Pareto chart denoting elevator components with highest power as reference, Speed Variation I and Speed Variation II – to
consumption during idle state. evaluate the energy savings in an elevator system. Here, two
modes – running mode and stand-by mode – have been used for
the operation of the elevator and the former mode has been
considered for the evaluation. For the overall performance, total
travel time is considered on different traffic patterns – peak
hours and non-peak hours – and compared with steady speed,
the result shows 5.06% energy savings and 1.32% reduction in
travel time for the former pattern and 12.35% energy savings
and 5.49% reduction in travel time for the latter pattern. The
energy efficiencies for all the three algorithms executed for a
10-floor building elevator are shown in Table-I.

TABLE-I. ENERGY EFFICIENCY RESULTS [3]

Constant Speed Speed
Speed (%) Variation I Variation II
(%) (%)
Peak Hour Traffic 88.72 90.1 87.95
Non-Peak Hour Traffic 90.45 91.46 90.04

Fig. 3. Pareto chart denoting elevator components with highest power Upon referring to the above table, the case for Speed
consumption during running state. Variation I has highest energy efficiency since the regenerative
energy is higher when compared the rest two cases. However,
Therefore, based on the above results, in this paper, the it has been concluded that the energy consumption and total
summaries of few research articles have been presented which travel time has reduced for Speed Variation II case when
are related to the energy consumption contributed by the compared to the rest irrespective of floor level, therefore,
elevator components. Also, few papers having different results leading to higher energy savings.
based on the experiments performed on certain elevators are
briefly summarized. Jinping et.al in [4], the authors have designed and
implemented a model which will lessen energy consumption in
III. ELEVATOR TECHNOLOGIES an elevator system. The model comprises of an energy feedback
digital system for an 18.5kW elevator having the capability to
In [1], the authors use supercapacitors for storing feedback recycle regenerated power. Furthermore, this regenerated
power. The main utility of supercapacitor has been clearly power, when the elevator operates in generator mode, have
mentioned and has a better advantage than storage batteries. unity power factor, sinus output and low total harmonic
One of the application says it is used power smoothening in the distortion (THD) lesser than 5% for a rated current of 25A. The
elevator system. A high efficiency power converter topology energy feedback digital system comprises an inverter system
has been postulated for the conversion circuit which is needed with a DSP controller with 15MHz processing speed and up to
16 pulse width modulation (PWM) output. The detail design the Best Available Technologies (BAT) has resulted into
and procedure for implementing have been articulated. Also, considerable savings in the energy around 62% is possible
this energy feedback digital system, installed for 18.5kW whereas it is possible to save 74% of energy if Best Not Yet
elevator, the energy saving ratio turned out to be 24.7%. Available Technologies (BNAT) are used which is expected to
come into market.
Lu et.al in [5] have described the Elevator Group
Supervisory Control System which is a traffic system where Adak et.al in [9] have designed a simulator which can
elevator controller manages the movement of the elevator to produce results to be analyzed for service quality and energy
efficiently transport passengers in buildings. For such a consumption levels are different scenarios caused by using
convoluted system, Artificial Intelligence has been used such as different technology, design, capacity and optimization
Genetic Network Programing (GNP) which is the advance methods. With this simulator designed, simulation on real
graph based evolutionary technique extended from Genetic elevator system with poor service quality has carried out. The
Algorithm (GA) and Genetic Programming (GP). The simulation was conducted for 6 hours with up-peak and down-
simulations result show that elevator uses more energy in the peak type traffic. The results showed that for running time the
light traffic on comparing with heavy traffic system due the energy consumption for 6 hour is 31.64 kWh and for stand-by
energy needed for the elevator to descend. The experiments are mode is 1.45 kWh. Then a comparison study was performed
performed on three traffic pattern – Regular Traffic, Up-Peak with two different scenarios – scenario-1 is with existing
Traffic, and Down-Peak Traffic – followed with four criteria number of lifts and scenario-2 is with increase in the number of
such as Average Waiting Time (AWT), Average Travelling lifts – the results then showed that the scenario-2 had lesser
Time (ATT), Long Waiting Percentage (LWP), and Energy energy consumption compared with scenario-1. For scenario-2
Consumption (EC). In all, three experiments were performed the energy consumption for 6 hour is 27 kWh and the standby
where first one describes the total four elevators in the traffic energy consumption is 2.07 kWh. Therefore, it can be
with low traffic density of 500 persons/hour. In the second concluded that by increasing the number of elevators, having
experiment, one elevator is removed from the traffic and the same specifications as the existing ones, the energy efficiency
lower traffic densities are 375 persons/hour and 500 improves but for certain situation the energy consumption could
persons/hour. In this experiment the energy consumption reverse this scenario. The reason for the second scenario to be
reduced by 24 – 30% by stopping one elevator for regular and more energy efficient is that during up-peak traffic, so called
up-peak traffic pattern. Also, it is shown that energy the worst peak traffic, the elevator comes down empty which
consumption reduces to 50% when both elevators are stopped requires the counterweight to be pulled upwards resulting in the
at down-peak traffic pattern. In both experiments, the energy energy consumption.
balance factor, used in the fitness function, are considered zero
Hakala et.al in [10] have performed a case study on the
whereas in the third experiment it is chosen 80% and results
energy consumption of an elevator installed in a tall building
shows that energy consumption is saved more compared with
using measurement methods on traffic simulations. The
zero energy balance factor.
measurement methods included elevator load and travel
In [6] the authors have described the implementation of distributions. In all three traffic conditions were studied on the
energy saving re-generative drive unit (EERU) in place of installed elevator – incoming traffic, inter-floor traffic and
existing drive having brake resistors. The use of EERU is to outgoing traffic – and resulted that the outgoing traffic had
generate the feedback power back to the grid. The experiments higher energy consumption compared with the incoming and
were performed on MATLAB/Simulink which were model inter-floor traffic. The test was performed using simulations
accordingly and on simulators. The prototype was installed in which showed that the power consumption ranging between
the elevator installed at the authors location and results showed 193 kW to 1685 kW for traffic in up direction and 195 kW to
that 43% of energy savings, which is around 63 kWh, were 1811 kW for the traffic in down direction. The values were
achieved compared with non-regenerative type. In addition, the ranging with respect distance travelled and the number of
use of EERU has reduced the power consumption at full load people with maximum 18-person capacity. However, for up
and no load up to 65% approximately whereas at balance load direction traffic around 721 kW and 583kW for down traffic of
it remains the same. power could be regenerated back to the grid. Overall, accuracy
of the results showed that for around trip total energy
Almeida et.al in [7, 8] have presented a technical analysis to consumption was 124 kWh and average energy consumption
the results of the audits performed on E4 project in Europe was 118 kWh for ten rounds. Therefore, the authors have
where the main aim is to improve the energy performance of concluded that around 30 – 40% of energy savings were
the elevators in tertiary sectors and residential buildings. Audits achieved and for MX technology used around 40 – 75% of
have been performed on 82 components which includes energy savings were achieved.
collection of load curves and characterization of stand-by mode
power consumption. The article has proposed that energy V. CONCLUSION
saving potentials which are possible by using best energy
efficient technologies, investment decisions and behavioral In conclusion, different research on power consumption in
approaches in the sectors. The report also mentions that in the elevator system have been performed and briefly summarized
residential areas the power consumption during stand-by is in Table-II below. Certain audits have been performed and
comparatively greater than running mode. On other hand, in the results are mentioned and have concluded that elevators
tertiary sectors the running mode has higher power installed in tertiary sector have higher power consumption than
consumption on compared with stand-by mode. Also, the use of residential sector. Some new innovative methods have been
proposed and have been claimed to be more energy efficient on [7] Aníbal de Almeida, Carlos Patrão, Fernando Ferreira, and João Fong,
comparison with the existing elevators. Certain articles have “Elevators and Escalators Energy Performance Analysis”, ACEEE
Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings, 2010.
proposed use of artificial intelligence can be used to improve [8] Aníbal De Almeida, Simon Hirzel, Carlos Patrão, João Fong, Elisabeth
the elevator’s energy efficiency. Dütschke, “Energy-Efficient Elevators and Escalators in Europe: An
Analysis of Energy Efficiency Potentials and Policy Measures”, Elsevier
TABLE-II. SUMMARY OF EFFICIENT Energy and Buildings, vol. 47, pp.151–158, 2012.
TECHNOLOGIES [9] Adak M.F, Duru N, Duru H.T, “Elevator Simulator Design and
Estimating Energy Consumption of an Elevator System”, Elsevier Energy
Technology Summary and Buildings, vol. 65, pp. 272–280, 2013.
[10] Hakala H, Siikonen M.L, Tyni T, and Ylinen J, “Energy-Efficient
16 PWM type energy feedback system Elevators for Tall Buildings”, presented at 6th World Congress – Council
Energy Feedback Digital
resulted with additional 24.7% of energy on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH 2001), Melbourne, 2001.
System
savings. [11] Sachs H, “Opportunities for Elevator Energy Efficiency Improvements”,
ACEEE, April 2005.
Energy Saving Re- Energy savings up to 43% achieved, also
[12] Barney G, “Energy Models for Lifts”, published in CIBSE Lifts Group
Generative Drive Unit 65% of lesser power consumption is achieved
(EERU) at no load and full load. website: www.cibseliftsgroup.org
[13] Ahmed S.S, Iqbal A, Sarwar R, and Salam M.S, “Modeling the Energy
Best Available Consumption of a Lift”, Elsevier Energy and Buildings, vol. 71, pp. 61–
Energy savings up to 62% achieved. 67, 2014.
Technologies (BAT)
Best Not Yet Available Possibility to achieve 74% of energy saving
Technologies (BNAT) once come into market.
MX Technology Energy savings up to 75% achieved.
Stand-alone
Ultracapacitor Plug & Energy efficiency up to 83% achieved.
Play Device
Energy efficiency up to 90% approximately
Speed Variation-II
achieved during non-peak hours and slightly
Algorithm
lesser during peak hours.
Energy efficiency up to 91% approximately
Speed Variation-I
achieved during non-peak hours and slightly
Algorithm
lesser during peak hours.

VI. DISCLAIMER
All the reviewed information is nothing but the summary of
the research articles which are already published and case study
performed on existing elevators. Hence, this paper is not related
to Schindler and is neither reviewed nor vetted by Schindler.
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