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33 C H A P T E R 6 Low to no-cost measures can be taken to reduce the energy consumption of an escalator or moving walkway. Proper maintenance of an escalator and moving walkway not only helps to prevent accidents and prolong the useful life of the unit, but also can help reduce energy use. Although not part of the original research effort, the team identified several maintenance best practices that, if implemented, are likely to improve moving walkway and escalator performance as described in this chapter. Sources for the best practices discussed in Chapter 6 include the following: ⢠Building Owners and Managers Association of British Columbia, Best Practices for All Eleva- tors and Escalators in British Columbia; ⢠Government of Western Australia Department of Commerce, Safety Standards for Escalators and Moving Walkways; ⢠Transportation Research Board, Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 100: Elevator and Escalator Maintenance and Safety Practices; and ⢠University of Michigan Elevator Shop. Best Practice 1: Minimize Operating Hours If the ASME 17.1 2010 Code has not been adopted in an airportâs state and the airport cannot receive a variance to install an intermittent drive or does not have the initial capital to afford the installation, they can still benefit from turning the escalator off when passengers are not present. If not run 24 hours a day, escalators and moving walkways are often started early in the morn- ing before many passengers are present and continue to run after the crowds have left. In addition, many terminals often have multiple escalators or moving walkways moving in the same direc- tion. This is often to prevent crowding at the escalator entry or exit during peak times. During times when few passengers are present, escalators should be turned off to avoid excess energy consumption. Best Practice 2: Lubricate Components to Reduce Friction Losses One of the most significant losses in escalators and moving walkways is friction loss. Fric- tion losses can be minimized through the use of proper lubrication. The following components should be lubricated on a regular basis: ⢠Brakes; ⢠Step connections; Best Practices
34 Airport Escalators and Moving WalkwaysâCost-Savings and Energy Reduction Technologies ⢠Rolls, roller tracks, chains, and gears; ⢠Handrails; ⢠Drive machine motor and reduction gear; and ⢠Connection between the motor and main drive shaft. In addition to ensuring that the components of the escalator and moving walkway are prop- erly lubricated, the components should be inspected regularly to ensure proper alignment. If the guide rails or shoes become misaligned, friction losses will increase. Best Practice 3: Install Energy Meters Energy meters not only help to develop a baseline energy use for an escalator/moving walkway and determine potential energy savings, but also can help notify maintenance staff when a part is not performing correctly. Escalators and moving walkways often have sensors and commu- nications systems that notify the airport staff when an escalator has stopped or is malfunction- ing. Many of these systems can be programmed to monitor energy consumption. Many escalator monitoring systems also can be programmed to send notifications to a computer or cell phone when an escalator is down, and can measure and record the energy consumption of an escalator/ moving walkway. By using monitoring devices, airport maintenance staff can detect when the energy use of a unit increases drastically. Unusual energy spikes are a good indicator that an esca- lator or moving walkway component (e.g., motor controller or motor) may be malfunctioning. Additionally, many of the modern controllers discussed in this report have built-in energy monitoring capabilities. When combined with information regarding traffic patterns, load, and idle times, energy data captured by monitors and controllers can help the airport identify methods for improving a unitâs energy performance. Best Practice 4: Clean Escalator Components Regularly Annual cleaning of the escalator components can help improve the energy performance of an escalator or moving walkway. Annual cleaning helps to reduce friction losses and aids airport staff in identifying failing components. The following components should be cleaned regularly: ⢠Steps/pallets and treadways; ⢠Drip pans; ⢠Rolls, roller tracks, and chains; ⢠Handrails; ⢠Skirts/comb plates; ⢠Drive machine motor and reduction gear; and ⢠Brake on drive machine.
