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7a You and your partner are process engineers working with Jochem and Katerina at the
chemical plant. You need to assess the sensors and measuring equipment required for the
steam production facility. In pairs, discuss the requirements using the information in the
diagram. Make notes of your ideas.

b In pairs, discuss what parameters can be determined for the installation of a heating
cycle using your ideas from Exercise 7a. You should assume that all the measurements will
be recorded against a timescale.

III Discussing readings and trends

8a In pairs, discuss the factors that cause mains electricity consumption to vary.

b ► 8.5 Helen, an electrical engineer at a power station, is giving a talk to a group of
visiting investors. Read the talk and note the five factors that influence electricity
consumption.
1 3 5
2 4

Helen: One of the biggest headaches in power generation is the fact that electricity consumption
fluctuates considerably. So in order to maintain a continuous supply we have to make continual
checks, and adjust the power load we generate. To help us plan those adjustments, we forecast
fluctuations in demand, so that we can anticipate peaks and troughs. We base these forecasts on
a number of different factors. One of them, one of the most important ones, is temperature.
During periods of very cold or very hot weather, demand increases. The increase in demand is
obviously due to millions of electric radiators coming on when it's cold, and air- conditioning
units working hard when it’s hot. Another factor, a key factor which increases or decreases
demand, is whether or not it’s light or dark in the morning and evening - obviously that dictates
lighting consumption. So those are the two main seasonal factors. They generally go hand-in-
hand so on cold, dark, winter evenings, the rise in demand is significant, compared with warm,
light, summer evenings. We also take into account what day of the week it is, particularly
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