LOCATION: Bethesda, MD
STUDY DATE: May 2016 – April 2017
SIZE & TECHNOLOGY: Combustion Turbine, Chilled Water Storage, Electrical Distribution System
FIRM ROLE: Feasibility Study
NAICS: 541330, 237130, 237120, 236220, 221112, 221117, 221118, 221121, 221122
Waldron performed a comprehensive utility study for NIH to evaluate the possibility of expanding the existing utility plant. The campus is presently served by a nominal 23 MW cogeneration facility, which is located adjacent to an existing thermal plant consisting of 60,000 tons of nameplate chilled water production capacity, with both steam and electric motor driven chilling capabilities, and five boilers with a nameplate production capacity of 800 kpph.
Waldron developed a model for the entire campus utilizing existing utility data, and taking into account infrastructure upgrade projects that were planned, but not yet implemented, including an upgrade to the existing combustion turbine, a modification to the campus
electrical distribution system, and the introduction of approximately 8 million gallons of chilled water storage.
As part of the analysis Waldron reviewed fuel supply opportunities with local utility, identified electrical switchgear upgrades that would be required to support a new cogeneration option, and analyzed multiple sizes and types of generation to identify the optimal technology and size for additional on-site power generation. As part of the analysis, Waldron reviewed air emission constraints on generator sizing as well.