Satellite Power Plant

Action 10

Initiate planning for a satellite power plant.

Baseline Information

• The University’s centralized power plant contains four boilers and one 1050-ton steam absorption (cooling) unit, with plans to add an additional 1050 tons of cooling capacity as part of the upcoming College of Business project. The plant has been in continuous operation since its construction in 1925. The present power plant is land-locked limiting the amount of expansion that can occur at its present site. This space limitation impacts the potential for application of technical innovations such as thermal storage, heat recovery, and generating electricity. Continuing to add equipment and expand the present structure will ultimately make it difficult and costly to replace the existing boilers when the need arises.

  Future work will involve construction of a satellite steam and chilled water plant. The satellite plant is proposed as part of The Master Plan and is to serve the proposed west campus expansion.

  The satellite power plant includes the building of a stand-alone structure that will be controlled from the main power plant. It includes installing such equipment as boilers, chillers, piping, pumps, tunnels, as needed, auxiliary equipment, automation, and controls. The intent of this plant is to avoid costly expansion to an already land-locked power plant; the possible need to increase steam pipe sizes from the original plant to west campus, and to reduce the distance that chilled water and steam has to travel. If this phase is approved, the plan to increase capacity at the existing power plant will be changed to upgrading and replacement. The West campus satellite power plant will also house central chillers. The chiller piping will require additional tunnels, even though existing tunnels will be utilized as much as possible. With the upgrade of the west campus high voltage electrical system it is now possible to set a transformer to provide power for a new plant. Preliminary studies of the long-range master plan indicate that a satellite plant will be more effective in providing utility services to west campus.

  In order to provide firm cooling capacity for campus buildings a chiller plant needs to be constructing near the south end of campus. The satellite plant will provide for the additional cooling that will be required for the central quad and any future development of a south quad loop (district cooling system). The satellite plant will require adding tunnels and increasing electrical capacity.

  Click here to view the The Energy Management and Utility Infrastructure Improvement Plan.

Action Steps

Progress will be measured based upon the completion of the following action steps.

Color codes for this plan's phases

Planning  Design  Construction

1. Action Step 01:  Advertise for engineering consultants specializing in design and operation of electric, steam and chilled water generation.

2. Action Step 02:  Engage the engineering consultants to assist in the evaluation of the University’s utility generation capability and to develop a plan for the future.

3. Action Step 03:  Identify and evaluate the short- and long-term benefits of expanding the University’s utility generating capacity in the current Power Plant location versus identifying one or more satellite locations to develop future generating capability.

4. Action Step 04:  Develop Scope Statements of the needs and desired outcomes of creating a satellite power plant.

5. Action Step 05:  Identify the required sequence of actions to begin upgrading the University’s chilled water production and distribution systems as recommended in the finalized University Energy/Utility Management Infrastructure Improvement Plan.

6. Action Step 06:  Identify the dollars required for preplanning and obtain sufficient funds to pay for the preplanning study.

7. Action Step 07:  Incorporate the findings into the University’s FY04 and FY05 Capital Budget Request.

8. Action Step 08:  Develop a flow chart of the numerous action steps illustrating the interdependence of proceeding with utility distribution improvements, construction of new and renovated capital facility projects and instituting energy conservation initiatives.

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