Electrifying the construction process : Replacing diesel engines with electric motors

• Main Authors: Willerström, Jakob, Linde, Adam, Fagrell, Johannes
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: Uppsala universitet, Institutionen för teknikvetenskaper 2015
• Subjects: Diesel engine; construction; electric motor; energy efficiency; environmental impact
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-254206

Diesel engines are commonly used in construction machines, for example excavators. In a diesel engine, the combustion of diesel is a process with a considerable environmental impact, with high amounts of emitted greenhouse gases. The bachelor thesis creates a model that investigates the potential of decreasing the environmental impact when replacing diesel engines with electric motors in the construction phase of the construction process of buildings. The model was made in three steps. In the first step the electric motors’ energy consumption were compared with the diesel engines’ energy consumption. Secondly, the results of the comparison were contrasted against the results of an implemented example as to determine the relevancy of the model. Finally, the carbon dioxide equivalent values of the diesel engines and the electric motors were calculated and compared. The result shows that there is a big potential of decreasing the environmental impact. The reduction is in the order of 63%-99% and it is shown that the share of renewable energy sources in the electricity mix is vital as to make the potential as large as possible.