Month: February

SABS Monthly Internship Report

Divyanshu lakra (2104210), Company Superviser: Mr. Rambabau Raghuwanshi
School of Electrical Sciences, IIT Goa, Farmagudi, Goa-403401

and security frameworks were also analyzed to ensure robust

Abstract—This report outlines my first month of internship at and scalable solutions for IoT applications. Furthermore, a
SABS Energy Enviro ltd. during which I studied Electric motors comparative study of BMS solutions from companies like 75F
and energy efficiency for Energy Auditors during the first week, and Enerbrain helped identify key industry practices.
followed by conducting research and development (R\&D) for an
IoT-based Building Management System (BMS) and exploring
cloud architectures and security measures. Additionally, I Did II. ELECTRICITY BILLING IN INDIA
case Studies on products of companies such as 75F and Electricity is an essential utility that powers households,
Enerbrain to understand industry Standards and technological businesses, and industries. Understanding electricity billing is
advancements in the field of IoT. The report provides insights
into the knowledge gained and future directions for applying
crucial for effective energy management and cost
these learnings. optimization. This report provides an in-depth analysis of
electricity billing in India, covering tariff structures, key
Index Terms—Electric Motors, Energy Efficiency, Energy Audit, components of an electricity bill, regulatory frameworks, and
Building Management System, Cloud Security, IoT, Smart state-wise electricity rates for 2025.
Buildings.
Components of an Electricity Bill
I. INTRODUCTION 1. Account Information: Every consumer is assigned a

T
HIS document includes work done in the first month of unique account number for billing and service purposes. The
my internship, Here I began by studying a book on billing date indicates when the bill is generated, while the due
electric motors and energy efficiency to gain date specifies the deadline for payment without incurring late
foundational knowledge on optimizing power usage in smart fees.
systems. The book provided insights into the fundamental
principles of electric motors, including their classifications 2. Tariff Categories: Electricity tariffs in India are divided
such as induction motors, synchronous motors, and DC into categories based on consumer type and voltage levels:
motors. It detailed their working mechanisms, efficiency A. Low Tension (LT): Applicable to domestic and
characteristics, and application areas. This study was small commercial consumers receiving supply at
undertaken to prepare for upcoming energy audit trips with the lower voltages (230V or 400V).
audit team of SABS, where I aim to gain industrial knowledge B. High Tension (HT): For industrial and large-scale
about energy audits and their practical implementation. consumers requiring supply at higher voltages (11kV
or above).
. One of the key aspects explored was motor sizing for variable
loads. Industrial motors frequently operate under changing load 3. Supply Voltage: Electricity is supplied at different voltage
conditions, making it crucial to select a motor based on the load levels based on consumer requirements:
duration curve rather than peak anticipated load. The book also A. LT Supply: Generally at 230V for single-phase or
covered different motor speed control mechanisms, such as 400V for three-phase connections.
multi-speed motors, eddy-current couplings, fluid couplings, B. HT Supply: Typically at 11kV or higher for large
and solid-state electronic variable speed drives (VSD). consumers.
Additionally, it emphasized the importance of proper motor
maintenance, with guidelines on lubrication, ventilation, and 4. Sanctioned Load vs. Contract Demand
periodic inspections to ensure optimal efficiency. A. Sanctioned Load: The maximum electrical load
permitted for a consumer, measured in kilowatts
These foundational concepts laid the groundwork for my (kW).
later research on energy-efficient systems in IoT-based B. Contract Demand: The load agreed upon with the
building automation. utility, allowing for future expansion without
frequent changes.
After this, I delved into research on IoT-based Building
Management Systems, focusing on smart automation, data 5. Maximum Demand Index (MDI): MDI records the
collection, and optimization techniques. Cloud architectures highest level of electrical demand during a billing period.
Consumers exceeding their sanctioned load may face
penalties.

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Month: February

III. COOLING TOWERS

6. Multiplication Factor (MF): For large consumers with Cooling towers are an essential part of many industrial
high energy consumption, utilities use Current Transformer processes, particularly in chemical plants, power plants, and air
(CT) meters. The MF adjusts meter readings to reflect actual conditioning systems. Their primary function is to dissipate heat
consumption accurately. into the atmosphere, making them a cost-effective and reliable
means of removing low-grade heat from cooling water. This
7. kVAh and kWh Readings report covers various aspects of cooling towers, including types,
A. kWh (Kilowatt-hour): Measures active energy components, performance evaluation, assessment techniques,
consumption. efficient system operation, cooling water treatment, flow control
B. kVAh (Kilovolt-ampere-hour): Measures apparent strategies, and energy-saving opportunities.
energy, considering both active and reactive power.
1. Types of Cooling Towers
8. Fixed Charges & Energy Charges Cooling towers are categorized into two main types: Natural
A. Fixed Charges: A set fee based on sanctioned load, Draft Cooling Towers and Mechanical Draft Cooling Towers.
covering infrastructure and maintenance costs.
B. Energy Charges: Variable costs calculated based on A. Natural Draft Cooling Towers
units consumed, often structured in slabs. Use large concrete chimneys to draw air naturally through
the tower.
9. Electricity Duty & Municipal Tax • Suitable for high water flow rates (>45,000 m³/hr).
A. Electricity Duty: A tax per unit of electricity • Primarily used in utility power stations.
consumed.
B. Municipal Tax: A percentage of the total bill
amount, varying by municipality.

10. Final Bill Calculation

The total bill includes:
A. Fixed Charges
B. Energy Charges
C. Electricity Duty
D. Municipal Tax
E. Outstanding Dues (if any)

Time-of-Day (ToD) Tariffs

ToD tariffs reflect electricity costs at different times of the
day:
• Peak Hours: Tariffs are higher (at least 20% for
commercial/industrial consumers, 10% for others).
• Solar Hours: Lower tariffs (at least 20% lower than
the normal rate).

Regulatory Bodies
A. Ministry of Power (MoP): The MoP formulates
national policies and oversees power sector
development.
B. Central Electricity Authority (CEA): The CEA
advises on technical matters, specifies infrastructure Figure 1: Types of Cooling Towers
standards, and optimizes resource use.
C. Central Electricity Regulatory Commission B. Mechanical Draft Cooling Towers
(CERC): CERC regulates tariffs for central utilities, Utilize large fans to force or draw air through circulated water.
sets inter-state transmission charges, and ensures fair • More widely used than natural draft towers.
competition. • Sub-categories include:
D. State Electricity Regulatory Commissions 1. Counterflow Induced Draft
(SERCs): Each state has its own SERC responsible 2. Counterflow Forced Draft
for determining tariffs, regulating intra-state 3. Crossflow Induced Draft
transmission, and overseeing distribution. Each type varies in the way air and water interact within the
E. Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE): BEE promotes tower, impacting their efficiency and application.
energy efficiency, conservation, and billing accuracy.
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Month: February

E. Evaporation Loss: Water lost due to evaporation.

2. Components of a Cooling Tower F. Cycles of Concentration (COC): Ratio of dissolved
Cooling towers consist of several essential components that solids in circulating water to that in makeup water.
contribute to their functionality: G. Blowdown Losses: Water removed to maintain COC
A. Frame and Casing: Provides structural support. within permissible limits.
B. Fill: Enhances heat transfer by increasing contact H. Liquid-to-Gas (L/G) Ratio: Ratio between water and
surface between air and water. air mass flow rates.
C. Cold Water Basin: Collects cooled water.
D. Drift Eliminators: Prevents water loss through air 5. Factors Affecting Cooling Tower Performance
stream. Key factors influencing cooling tower performance include:
E. Air Inlet: Entry point for air into the tower. A. Heat Load: Amount of heat that needs to be dissipated.
F. Louvers: Ensures uniform airflow and retains water. B. Range and Flow Rate: Higher heat loads require
G. Nozzles: Distributes water evenly over the fill. greater flow rates and larger towers.
H. Fans: Facilitates air movement, enhancing cooling C. Wet Bulb Temperature: Determines minimum
efficiency. possible cooling temperature.
D. Approach: Smaller approach requires larger cooling
3. Fanless Cooling Towers towers.
Fanless cooling towers use existing water pressure to create a E. Fill Media Design: Efficient fill designs improve heat
water screen, which induces air movement through an ejector transfer and reduce power consumption.
principle. The main advantages of fanless cooling towers include:
A. Energy Savings: Eliminates fan power consumption. 6. Efficient System Operation
B. Low Noise: No fan or motor, reducing vibration and Optimizing cooling tower performance requires attention to the
noise levels. following:
C. Water Savings: Lower drift loss due to fine mist A. Cooling Water Treatment: Prevents corrosion,
formation. scaling, and biological fouling.
D. Low Maintenance: Fewer mechanical parts to service. B. Drift Loss Reduction: Advanced drift eliminators can
minimize water loss.
C. Optimized Fan Operation: Using high-efficiency FRP
fans can reduce energy consumption.
D. Performance Assessment: Regular monitoring of
parameters like temperature, flow rates, and approach
values.
7. Variable Frequency Drives (VFD) for Cooling Tower Fans
Using Variable Frequency Drives (VFD) for fan motors can
significantly reduce power consumption by adjusting fan speed
based on cooling demand. The advantages of VFD include:

Figure 2: Fanless Cooling Towers

4. Cooling Tower Performance

Several parameters determine the efficiency and performance of Figure 3: Schematic of VFD for Cooling Towers
cooling towers:
A. Range: Difference between the inlet and outlet water A. Energy Savings: Fan power follows a cube law,
temperatures. meaning small speed reductions result in large power
B. Approach: Difference between outlet water savings.
temperature and ambient wet-bulb temperature. B. Precise Temperature Control: Maintains optimal
C. Cooling Tower Effectiveness: Ratio of range to the cooling water temperature.
sum of range and approach. C. Extended Equipment Life: Reduces wear on motors
D. Cooling Capacity: Heat rejected (kcal/hr or TR).
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Month: February

and gearboxes. System Configuration:

D. Lower Operating Costs: Reduced energy and A. Electrical Hook-Up: Configured for 3-phase, 4-wire
maintenance expenses. (3P4W) with a nominal voltage of 3 ×
A case study showed that implementing VFDs on cooling tower 230/400V (phase-to-neutral/phase-to-phase).
fans in an ingot manufacturing plant led to a 35.2% energy B. Transformer Settings:
savings with an annual saving of INR 215,280 and a payback ▪ K-Factor: Set to q = 1.7, e = 0.10 (used to
period of 1.16 years. derate transformers for harmonic loads).
▪ CT/PT Ratios: Configured as 1:1 (direct
8. Energy Saving Opportunities measurement without scaling).
Several strategies can enhance cooling tower energy efficiency:
2. Input Parameter Configuration
A. Optimize Fan Blade Angle: Adjusting seasonally for
• Measurement Parameters:
efficiency.
A. Interval used:
B. Upgrade Drift Eliminators: Replacing old types with
▪ Data from Transformer 1: 5-second
low-pressure drop PVC units. intervals (fast sampling for transient analysis).
C. Use High-Efficiency Nozzles: Ensuring uniform water ▪ Recording From Compressor 1: 20-second
distribution. intervals (long-term trend analysis).
D. Monitor and Control Air and Water Flow: Adjusting B. Harmonic Analysis:
based on seasonal and load variations. ▪ Harmonic Orders: Recorded 0–50th
E. Segregate Cooling Loads: Avoiding mixing of high harmonics for voltage (U), current (A), and
and low heat loads apparent power (S).
▪ Reference: Fundamental value (H1) as % of
fundamental (IEC 61000-4-7).
IV. ENERGY AUDITING: LUCKNOW RAILWAY WORKSHOP
3. Triggering and Synchronization
• Synchronization Source: Phase-locked to the fundamental
frequency (50 Hz) for harmonic coherence.
• Sampling Rate: Typically, 256 samples/cycle (for 50 Hz:
12.8 kS/s) to capture harmonics up to 50th order (2.5 kHz).

4. Measurement Execution
• Voltage and Current Channels:
A. Voltage Channels (V1, V2, V3): Directly connected
to phases L1, L2, L3, and neutral (N).
B. Current Channels (A1, A2, A3): Rogowski coils
clamped around phase conductors.

• Real-Time Calculations:
A. RMS Values: Calculated for voltage (V), current
(A), and power (W).
Fluke 434 II Power Analyzer was used to measure electrical
parameters of a transformer and machines at Lucknow B. Power Parameters:
Railway Workshop. The data includes voltage, current, power, ▪ Active Power,
power factor, and harmonic distortion levels. The recordings 𝑃 = 𝑉𝑅𝑀𝑆 × 𝐼𝑅𝑀𝑆 × 𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝜙)
were taken over specific time intervals, and the data is ▪ Reactive Power,
presented in multiple sheets, including configuration 𝑄 = 𝑉𝑅𝑀𝑆 × 𝐼𝑅𝑀𝑆 × 𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝜙)
information, recording data, and harmonic analysis.
▪ Apparent Power (S)
Process of Using the Fluke 434-II Power Analyzer 𝑆 = √(𝑃2 + 𝑄2 )
1. Pre-Configuration and Setup ▪ Power Factor (PF):
Probe Selection and Calibration: 𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝜙) = 𝑃/𝑆
A. Current Probes: A193/MA193 AmpFLEX Flex
Probes (100 A) were used. These are Rogowski coils C. Harmonic Analysis:
for non-intrusive AC current measurements. Ensure ▪ THD-F (Total Harmonic Distortion):
50 𝐻
probes are calibrated to the analyzer’s input 𝑇𝐻𝐷 = ∑ ( )2 × 100
ℎ

specifications (e.g., 1 mV/A sensitivity). ℎ=2 𝐻1

B. Voltage Probes: Direct voltage inputs (1:1 ratio) for ▪ Individual Harmonics: Expressed as % of
phase-to-neutral measurements (3-phase 4-wire fundamental (e.g., H3, H5, H7).
system).

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Month: February

Time U12 U23 U31 A1 A2 A3 A. Current Surges: Up to 157A (1:26:40 PM), causing
THD THD THD THD THD THD total power to reach 99.6 kW.
f f f f f f B. Low-Load Periods: Current dropped
%f %f %f %f %f %f to 63A (1:28:00 PM), with power as low as 32.5 kW.
1:26:00 2.5 2.4 2.7 5.4 5 5.3
PM 3. Power Factor (PF)
1:26:20 2.7 2.6 2.9 5.5 5.2 5.4 Transformer 1:
PM A. PF: Averaged 0.88–0.93 (near-unity, indicating
1:26:40 2.8 2.7 3.1 5.6 5.2 5.4 efficient load).
PM B. Dip: PF dropped to 0.849 (12:01:55 PM) during
1:27:00 2.8 2.7 3 6.8 6.5 6.5 reactive load changes.
PM Compressor 1:
1:27:20 2.7 2.6 2.9 7.9 7.7 7.6 A. PF Variability: Ranged from 0.55 (low PF during
PM motor starts) to 0.88.
1:27:40 2.6 2.6 2.8 11.9 12.1 11.4
PM 4. Harmonic Distortion
1:28:00 2.6 2.6 2.8 12.3 12.7 11.7 • Voltage Harmonics (U THD):
PM A. CSSTR1: THD <2.5% (compliant with IEEE 519).
1:28:20 2.6 2.5 2.7 10.6 10.7 9.9 ▪ H3 Dominance: 1.6–2.1% (typical
PM for nonlinear loads).
1:28:40 2.7 2.6 2.8 10.3 10.5 9.7 B. COM1: THD spiked to 24.3% for U31 H3 (1:31:40
PM PM), indicating severe harmonic pollution.
1:29:00 2.6 2.4 2.7 12.2 12.7 11.3 • Current Harmonics (A THD):
PM A. CSSTR1: THD ranged 5–20% (higher during low-
load periods).
1:29:20 2.5 2.4 2.6 11.9 12 10.9
▪ H5 and H7: Dominant (e.g., 12–
PM
15% for A1 H5).
1:29:40 2.4 2.4 2.6 11.9 12.3 11
B. COM1: Extreme THD (43.2% for A2 H3) due to
PM
nonlinear loads (e.g., VFDs).
1:30:00 2.5 2.5 2.6 9.7 10.2 9.2
• 5. Anomalies
PM
• COM1 Dataset:
1:30:20 2.3 2.3 2.5 10.3 10.2 9.9
A. Harmonic Resonance: Observed at 1:31:40
PM
PM (U31 H3 = 24.2%, A2 H3 = 43.2%).
1:30:40 2.2 2.3 2.5 11.3 11.5 11
B. Data Corruption: Entries marked "- - -" suggest
PM
measurement dropout or invalid samples.
1:31:00 2.5 2.5 2.8 12.3 12.4 11.8
PM •
• Key Technical Insights
• Aggregation Interval Impact:
A. 5s Aggregation (CSSTR1): Captured transient
harmonics and flicker.
Summary of Data Analysis:
B. 20s Aggregation (COM1): Smoothed data but
1. Voltage Stability
missed rapid fluctuations.
Transformer 1 Dataset (5s Aggregation):
A. Phase Voltages: Stable around 246–248V (L-N), • Harmonic Sources:
with minimal fluctuation (±1%). A. Odd-Order Harmonics (H3, H5, H7): Likely
B. Unbalance: Phase-to-phase voltage unbalance <2% from 6-pulse VFDs or switched-mode power
(within IEEE 1159 limits). supplies.
B. High H3 in COM1: Indicates neutral current
Compressor 1 Dataset (20s Aggregation): overload in 3-phase systems.
C. Voltage Drop Observed during high-load intervals • Power Quality Compliance:
(e.g., 240.6V at 1:26:40 PM). A. Voltage THD within limits (IEEE 519: <5% for
distribution systems).
2. Current and Power Trends B. Current THD exceeded limits during low-load
Transformer 1: conditions (requires harmonic filters).
A. Current (A): Ranged from 100–150A per phase,
correlating with active power (25–35 kW/phase).
B. Total Power (PT): Peaked at 103.3 kW (12:09:55
PM). VI. FUTURE WORKS
Compressor 1: Going forward, I will be allowed to participate in On-site
energy audits with the SABS audit team to gain hands-on
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Month: February

experience in evaluating energy efficiency in real-world

industrial and commercial settings. These audits will help
solidify my understanding of power consumption patterns and
optimization strategies, particularly in motor-driven systems
and building automation solutions.

Additionally, based on my research on IoT-based BMS and

case studies on Enerbrain and 75F, We will begin the
development of an IoT-based environmental sensing device
similar to ESense and ENode. This device will integrate real-
time data collection with AI-driven analytics to optimize
energy consumption and indoor air quality. The goal is to
design a scalable, cost-effective solution that can be deployed
in smart buildings for improved energy management and
operational efficiency.

This combination of practical auditing experience and IoT

device development will provide a well-rounded approach to
advancing energy efficiency and automation solutions in
modern infrastructure.

VII. CONCLUSION
The first month of my internship provided valuable insights
into electric motor efficiency, IoT-based BMS, and cloud
security. The study reinforced my understanding of optimizing
power consumption in industrial and building automation
applications. These findings confirm that integrating IoT and
AI in energy management leads to substantial cost savings and
improved system efficiency, contributing to sustainable smart
buildings. As IoT technology continues to evolve, further
advancements in AI-driven automation, edge computing, and
cybersecurity will play a critical role in shaping the future of
smart building management systems

VIII. REFERENCES
[1] Energy_Efficiency_in_Electrical_Utilities by Bureau of
Energy Efficiency
[2] Energy-efficient system design for IoT devices
[3] Efficient Energy Management for the Internet of Things
in Smart Cities
[4] Products of EnerBrain
[5] Building Automation Devices | 75F