Our Sustainable Campus - Rediscovering the power of efficiency

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By Brandon Watson
Thursday, October 4, 2007
The power plant is not a misnomer.
 
An immense amount of power, in the form of natural gas and electricity, is consumed by the plant in order to provide the campus with steam, chilled water and compressed air. This large-scale consumption makes the power plant an ideal facility for improvements in sustainability.
 
Physical Plant operates the power plant and is responsible for the essential services of heating, cooling and compressed air that it provides. The division is going to great lengths to update its distribution systems to make it run more efficiently, reducing its environmental impact.
 
In 2001, a four-phase upgrade to the south chiller plant was drafted. In each phase an older chiller is removed and replaced by a new, more efficient system. George Qubty, Physical Plant Manager, Mechanical & Energy, is coordinating the massive project, which is currently in its third phase.
 
In 2006, phase two was completed. A new 2,000-ton chiller, cooling tower, and two pumps replaced two aging 800 ton chillers. One benefit of the new equipment is that it uses a zero ozone-depleting potential refrigerant, R134a (HFC), instead of R11 found in older chillers. This is part of the university's policy to phase out all CFC refrigerants in accordance with the Montreal Protocol.
 
Likewise, the sophisticated systems of the new chillers mean better energy efficiency.
 
“The capacity of the new condenser water pump and cooling tower fans are controlled using variable frequency drives," says Qubty. “This is where we will see the most significant increases in operating efficiency."
 
The fourth and final phase is expected to be completed by the year 2010, giving the university twice the chilling capacity with a greater operating efficiency.
 
On the high-pressure steam distribution side, there are plans to improve the condensate return. In the near future, the pipeline buried below the campus, collecting condensate will be upgraded for more efficient recovery. The condensate return reduces the amount of new water that the system needs to introduce by recycling the unused condensed vapor from the steam line.
 
Improving efficiency and being mindful of consumption does not begin and end in Physical Plant. During the winter months in particular, the campus community can make a real difference. Being aware of open windows, dressing appropriately, and reporting hot and cold rooms all contribute to a more efficient system.
 
The writer is a communications officer in the Physical Plant.
 

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