CPE CPE Energy Management & Efficiency 2

Question 1

What is the purpose of a power factor correction capacitor bank in a plant?

Accepted Answer

Reduce reactive power demand and lower utility penalties

Answer

Capacitor banks supply reactive power locally, improving power factor and reducing the reactive current drawn from the utility, which lowers demand charges.

Question 2

Which heat recovery method captures waste heat from compressed air system aftercoolers?

Accepted Answer

Using the rejected heat for space heating or process water preheating

Answer

Up to 90% of the energy input to an air compressor is rejected as heat, which can be recovered from aftercoolers to heat facility spaces or process water.

Question 3

What does an energy audit's 'simple payback period' calculation determine?

Accepted Answer

The time required for energy savings to equal the initial investment cost

Answer

Simple payback period is calculated by dividing the capital cost of an improvement by the annual energy cost savings it produces.

Question 4

In a compressed air system, what is the most common cause of energy waste?

Accepted Answer

Leaks in distribution piping and fittings

Answer

Compressed air leaks can account for 20–30% of a compressor's output, making leak detection and repair one of the highest-ROI energy conservation measures.

Question 5

Which federal program provides energy benchmarking and labeling for commercial and industrial buildings in the US?

Accepted Answer

ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager

Answer

ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager is the EPA's online tool for tracking energy and water consumption and benchmarking facility performance against peers.

(CPE) Certified Plant Engineer Practice Test

(CPE) Certified Plant Engineer Practice Test

CPE CPE Energy Management & Efficiency 2