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Avoid Blackouts: Distributed Generation CHP Applications
for Research Laboratories
P. Richard Rittelmann, FAIA,
Burt Hill Kosar Rittelmann Associates
The recent blackout has renewed the urgency of providing reliable
power for mission-critical facilities. Research laboratories are
mission-critical facilities because they house a large number of
experimental colonies of research subjects. Some of this research
is the result of several decades of diligence. As such reliable
power and climatic conditions are essential. The use of distributed
generation (DG) affords an excellent opportunity for providing reliable
power and also allows the reject heat to be used for heating, cooling
and process hot water.
The results of a case study for a laboratory building in a hot
and humid climate will be presented. For this 100,000 sq. ft. building,
one megawatt of Microturbines DG system was designed. The matching
of the facility electric load with the thermal loads, resulted in
fuel use efficiency of over 75%. The performance of the Microturbine
DG system for Combined Heat Power (CHP), will be presented. The
environmental benefits of project will be discussed. The facility
owner's decision making process will also be discussed. For the
innovative project such as the one being discussed, there are non-quantifiable
benefits such as:
- Increased productivity of people,
- Ability to attract research grants,
- Ability to attract staff,
- Friendly to the environment.
Most of these benefits are difficult to quantify in monetary terms.
Therefore a "Modified Delphi Technique" for decision making
was devised. Using this method, a group of people were able to rate
projects with "less than the best available information".
The presentation will discuss the emerging trend for distributed
generation for mission-critical buildings. This will be done with
a case study and a method of decision making that the facility owners
are likely to use. The conference participants will leave with a
clear understanding of the DG/CHP applications that will help avoid
the blackout related problems and will also learn the innovative
decision making process.
Findings:
The design of innovative energy systems for the labs must not be
carried out only in the context of the first cost or the payback
period but must also consider many other non-quantifiable factors.
A method must be used to translate the non quantifiable factors
into tangible benefits for the project. For the proposed case study,
these factors are listed above under the abstract. The valuable
lessons learnt from the project are:
- How to communicate innovative design concepts to a diverse team
of individuals.
- How to integrate new technology systems in the areas where environmental
regulations are changing.
- How would the lab buildings be better served with distributed
generation and Combined heat power systems.
- How does the case study address the major requirement of the
"National Energy Policy 2000" document by increasing
the fuel use efficiency.
- Improve the power reliability and quality at the facility.
Labs21 Connection:
The proposed study addresses the following aspects of the Labs21
approach:
- Use of life cycle cost decision making.
- Sustainable energy and water efficiency.
- Emissions reduction.
- On-site power and Combined heat and power technologies.
Biographies:
Dick Rittelmann, FAIA, is the Chairman of Burt Hill Kosar
Rittelmann Associates, an Architecture, Engineering, Interiors,
and Applied Research Firm in Butler, Pennsylvania. He is a graduate
of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Dick is a Fellow of American
Institute of Architects. His involvement with Power System using
Alternative Energy systems, dates back to 1970's. During that time
he was actively involved with various DOE activities for Large -Scale
PV Systems and other Solar Energy projects. He has participated
in the International Energy Agency (IEA) activities as U. S. representative
for several tasks. He also participates on the Research Advisory
Boards for many National Labs which include Lawrence Berkeley Labs,
and Oakridge National Lab. Dick is a highly sought speaker by various
professional organizations such as Strategic Research Institute,
Tradelines, AIA, ASHRAE, CIC, EPA Laboratories for the 21st Century,
EDUCAUSE, APPA, ERAPPA, SCUP, AEC Systems, various Hospital Technology
organizations etc. He has been involved in presenting papers and
seminars for over 40 years. His expertise in addition to architecture
for Mission-Critical Buildings, includes Information Systems, High
Technology Medical Systems, Research Labs and Communication Facilities.
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