Posted Date: 11/7/2008
Kaweah Delta Medical Center new cogeneration plant is up and running.
“Cogeneration” is the process by which Kaweah Delta generates it's own electricity via an engine/generator system and reclaim the heat produced by the engine generator to produce steam, which is an energy source. "Kaweah Delta uses steam to run our laundry facility, and to heat and cool the hospital building. The production of our own electricity and the reclamation of the waste heat results in substantial energy cost savings and a very high rate of energy efficiency." states Mike Williams, Architect and Facilities Planning Director
Project: The scope of the recently completed project was to replace our existing 20 year old cogeneration technology, which included 3 reciprocating piston engine and generator sets. The existing cogeneration equipment was past its useful life and was in need of replacement. Based on a significant analysis of replacement technologies, we decided to go with the turbine generator technology in lieu of the reciprocating piston engine technology. The 3 existing piston engine generators were rated for 1.8 megawatts of electrical power. The new turbine technology enabled us to replace the 3 piston engines with a single turbine (jet) engine generator, rated at 3.5 megawatts of electrical power. The 3.5 megawatts enables us to provide electricity to our existing hospital building, the new north expansion building, the existing 5-story Support Services building, and the future next building addition to the north expansion.
Statistics: The new single turbine generator is rated at 3.5 megawatts of electrical power. The fuel source for the turbine is natural gas. The annual energy cost savings to the District due to cogeneration is estimated at $800,000 to $1,200,000 annually. The cost savings are in part based on the cost of natural gas vs. the cost of electricity provided by Southern California Edison. The District now has 3 sources of electricity, the new turbine generator, a new 12 Kv Southern California Edison Company service, and our back-up emergency generators. The new cogeneration plant technology allows the District to utilize either the power produced from our turbine generator or that produced by the Edison company. This allows us the flexibility to manage our electrical consumption and costs to our best advantage, maximizing efficiency and cost savings.
Project Cost: The final cost of the cogeneration project is projected to be $18.8M.
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