District Energy

4nd Quarter 1996 | Volume 82 Number 2

U.S. Naval Academy Utilities in Ship-Shape: Serving as Energy Showcase

Chi Y. Chiu, Mechanical Engineering, Energy and Utilities Division, Public Works Department, United States Naval Academy

Eight years after its founding, the United States Naval Academy built the first true district heating system in the United States in 1853. Today the Naval Academy's district heating system is the oldest continuously operating system in the world, save only a small geothermal system in France. Fifty-seven people now operate and monitor the 338-acre campus's heating, cooling and water distribution systems. Designated as the Navy's "Energy Showcase" base, the Naval Academy demonstrates and publicizes new advanced technologies in energy and water conservation to more than 1 million visitors annually.

FEATURES

Privatizing Power at SUNY: A University Reaches Out

Daniel R. Nugent, P.E., General Manager, Nissequogue Cogen Partners

To combat shrinking public funds and escalating utility costs, the State University of New York turned to the private sector to develop a heat-and-power production facility at its campus in Stony Brook, Long Island. The new 40 MW cogeneration facility began serving all of the University's electrical and thermal energy needs in 1995 with CEA Stony Brook Operators at the helm. Designed with excess capacity, Stony Brook's new plant is ready for the campus's planned growth.

Beyond Condensate-System Protection: Ensuring Amine Compliance

Anne M. Wilson, Market Development Manager, Nalco Chemical Co.

Controlling corrosion in condensate-return systems is an ongoing challenge for physical plant administrators. Amines, typically used to prevent corrosion, have recently been subject to environmental health and safety concerns. Today, plant operators must not only seek better methods of feeding and controlling amines for corrosion protection, but also ensure that amine use meets regulatory requirements.

Mid-America and IUPUI: Education Benefits All

Marni Lemons, Media Relations Coordinator, IPALCO Enterprises Inc.

Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI) became Mid-America Energy Resources' (MAER) largest customer when it signed a contract for district cooling service with MAER in 1994. The new service allowed IUPUI to decommission its old self-operated, electric-driven campus district cooling system that used chlorofluorocarbons and was unable to provided sufficient cooling during the hottest summer days. The University sees definite benefit in its new outsourcing arrangement.

Starting From Scratch: Goucher College Starts Up New District Heating and Cooling System

Kenneth E Pitz, P.E., Project Manager, RMF Engineering Inc.

Located in the northern Baltimore suburb of Towson, Goucher College is now home to a brand-new district heating and cooling system. After a master-planning effort in 1992 recommended heating and cooling system upgrades, the college agreed on a new central plant to generate and distribute hot water for heating during the heating season; for the cooling season, the plant's chillers would be paired with an ice-storage system. The initial phase of the project, which included connecting two of the college's largest buildings, was completed in September 1995.

District Cooling Flattens Load Profiles

In the article "District Cooling Flattens Load Profiles" in the third quarter 1996 issue of District Energy, graphs were used to illustrate the impact of district cooling on the electricity profile of a customer building. The month axis for each graph, however, was incorrect. The article has been reprinted in this issue as corrected.

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