Jesse Brown VA Medical Center - 3.4 MW CHP Application - Case Study
Quick Facts
LOCATION: Chicago, Illinois
PRIME MOVER:
(1) Solar Centaur 40TM Natural Gas Turbine
GENERATING CAPACITY: 3,419 kW
HEAT RECOVERY EQUIPMENT:
(1) Kentube Heat Recovery Steam Generator
50,000/15,000 lbs/hr (fired/unfired)
(1) 800 ton Absorption Chiller
HEAT RECOVERY APPLICATION: Building Heat, Absorption Cooling
IMPLEMENTATION COST: $12.5 million (energy center & CHP system)
TOTAL ENERGY AND OPERATION SAVINGS: $41 million over the life of the lease
SYSTEM FINANCING OPTION: Enhanced-Use Leasing
LEASING TERM: 25 years
Project Overview
In November 2003, a 3.4 MW Combined Heat and Power system was installed at the Jesse Brown Veterans Affairs Medical Center to provide electricity and steam to the medical facility. The CHP system offered energy independence and security to the hospital and currently maintains an availability of over 98%. The CHP system consists of a Solar Centaur 40 TM combustion turbine fueled by natural gas with a maximum steam generating capacity of 50,000 lbs/hr when duct-fired. At an installed cost of $12.5 million, the CHP system will save $41 million in energy costs over the life of the 25 year project lease.
Reasons for CHP
Energy Savings
In 1997, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was looking to reduce their expenses on the utility bills for their 168 hospitals and medical facilities. VA performed a study to evaluate CHP in all VA medical facilities and identified 48 of the 168 facilities that held high potential for energy cost savings with Combined Heat and Power. CHP was implemented at three of the 48 sites – Jesse Brown VA
Medical Center (Chicago, IL), North Chicago Medical Center (North Chicago, IL), and James H. Quillen Medical Center (Johnson City, TN) - applying VA’s Enhanced-Use Lease authority.
Energy Independence
Prior to CHP, the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center purchased its steam from the neighboring University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) campus and electricity from the local electric utility, Commonwealth Edison (ComEd). To gain energy independence, the hospital found its solution in a CHP system that would generate both electricity and steam. The CHP system would be housed in an energy center, a facility that is isolated for the sole purpose of providing energy needs to the medical facility (electricity, steam, hot water and chilled water). The hospital took advantage of a nearby existing warehouse (originally a dairy building) built in 1920. The building was a two story, 200,000 sq. ft., concrete facility that would serve as their energy center that would be home to the new CHP system and other utility equipment.
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