The University of Vermont

Utility Master Plan (UMP) &

Combined Heat and Power (CHP)
Tri-generation Project
 BOT Recommendation

Board of Trustee Meeting - February 10-12, 2005

Trustees approved the Utility Master Planning and the

Combined Heat and Power (CHP) or Tri-generation
concept; and the expenditure of $19.0 million to
complete phase I & II of a five phase plan to
modernize the University’s utilities.

The University of Vermont

Utility Master Plan (UMP) & CHP Tri-generation Project 2
 Project Facts
Steam Heat - Central Heat Plant is the heart of our modernization plans.

 Provides centralized steam heat to 85% of campus.

 Will require a new boiler or Tri-Generator to provide heat to new buildings.
 2003 heating costs are $2.8 million, 2004 heating costs not completely tabulated.
 Existing Air Quality Permit only allows 4 of 5 boilers to operate simultaneously.

Electricity – Primarily provided by Burlington Electric Department (BED).

 2003 electricity costs were $5.1 million. Fees established by tariff and approved by Public Service Board.
 BED 10.0 MW contract will expire in 2007. BED raised rates 7% in 2004.
 2003 peak demand was 11.6 MW.
 Will rise a minimum of 2.5 MW when new buildings are built. (Davis Student Commons, Univ. Heights Dorms &
Plant & Soil Science Bldg.)

Chilled Water – Existing decentralized chilling system inefficient.

Consists of individual building units and electric window air conditioners.

Air conditioning is permitted where it is required for animal care, human health, research, proper
function of equipment or the preservation of materials or artifacts.

The University of Vermont

Utility Master Plan (UMP) & CHP Tri-generation Project 3
 Why Tri-gen/Co-gen ?

Selling Points –
 Cogeneration helps to meet UVM mission of safe, reliable and cost effective energy system
 Overall efficiency of 75% to 80%, where as BED efficiency ~ 30%
 Reduces overall emissions - Better environment (centralized metering, monitoring, & maintenance)
 Helps BED offset their future power purchases. This helps the city of Burlington and existing infrastructure
 Provides opportunity for a future waste heat boiler, in lieu of conventional gas or oil fired
 Tri-Generator - Our assumption is it will last up to 30 years with good maintenance & has a potential to reduce
annual energy costs to UVM by $2.2 million dollars.

Key Hurdles –
 City of Burlington will need approve a building permit for CHP buildout.

 State Dept of Environmental Conservation and the Public Service Board will
approve Act 248 emissions and building permits.

 Schedule – Utility requirements (cooling) for Davis Student Commons by summer 2006

The University of Vermont

Utility Master Plan (UMP) & CHP Tri-generation Project 4
 Utilities Master Plan Implementation

Phase Description of Major Work Costs Timeline

I Cage Physical Plant Addition,1st Chiller, 10.0M Mar 05 - Mar 07
Cooling Tower Pad & Underground Lines
II Additional Infrastructure and Deferred 9.0M Mar 05 - Mar 07
Maintenance
III Plant Life Science Chiller & Distribution 3.0M Jun 05 - Mar 08
Lines
IV Cogen Generator & Heat Recovery Steam 14.0M Nov 05 – Mar 08
Generator Purchase, Installation & Electric
Distribution System
V Cogen Distribution Line Expansion ? ?
---------------------------------
Totals = 36.0M

The University of Vermont

Utility Master Plan (UMP) & CHP Tri-generation Project 5
 Phase I : Mar 05 – Mar 07
Utility Master Planning and Combined Heat and Power (CHP) or Tri-generation
A. New Structure for the cooling towers

B. 1st chiller minimum (1400 tons) North Campus

C. Interconnecting piping to: Bailey Howe,
Royal Tyler Theatre, Old Mill/ Lafayette, G
Davis Student Center, and MLS.

D. Associated controls, mechanical/electrical

work and space reallocation in CHP to
accommodate Chillers.

E. Pumping Systems for CHW system.

F. Distribution to Manhole # 7 (Aged pipe,

choke pt, safety hazard– Critical MH) X – part of Commons project
H
G. Interconnecting steam piping Given to HSRF
x
F
H. Re-location of Steam/Installation of chilled
water for Davis Student Center – Distribution
to MLS, Aiken, & to future PSS. C
B x x
I. Replace aged steam piping for Morrill
A
Phase I Cost: $10.0 Million I
Avoided Costs: $950K D E
North Campus
Deferred Maintenance Costs: $1.05 Million
The University of Vermont
Utility Master Plan (UMP) & CHP Tri-generation Project 6
Phase I – Commons Steam and Chilled Water
Underground Distribution
Phase I - Steam
Driven Chillers
 Absorption Chiller Refrigeration Cycle

• UVM absorption chillers will use steam to drive a turbine as

their primary source of power. (not electricity or Nat. Gas)

• Cost of Electricity is sufficiently high relative to cost of steam.

• Steam driven chillers offer lower life cycle costs with higher
capital cost.

• System uses a low-temperature liquid refrigerant that

absorbs heat from the water to be cooled and converts to a
vapor phase (in the evaporator section).

• Absorption chillers are used to generate cold water (44°F)

that is circulated to air handlers in the distribution system for
air conditioning.
 Phase II : Mar 05 – Mar 07

Utility Master Planning and Combined Heat and Power (CHP) or Tri-generation

A. Steam and chilled water lines to Waterman

B
B. Replacement of some aged steam piping A
remaining on campus (deferred maintenance) as F E
well as adding new capacity in piping and adding
chilled water lines to buildings.

C. Eliminating several south campus steam

distribution system deficiencies (deferred
maintenance – aged pipe 25yrs +)
A North
North Campus
Campus
D. PFG Upgrade to accommodate lower pressure
steam (not shown)
South Campus
E. Replace boiler capacity in Given Building
(Needed to accommodate Plant Life Science
bldg and back up to system)

F. Eliminating single point failure points at central

heat plant
C

Phase II Cost: $9.0 Million

Avoided Costs: $4.75 Million
Deferred Maintenance Costs: $4.25 Million

The University of Vermont

Utility Master Plan (UMP) & CHP Tri-generation Project 8
 *Phase III: Jun 05 – Mar 08

Utility Master Planning and Combined Heat and Power (CHP) or Tri-generation

North Campus

A. Expanded chiller system to accommodate

Plant Sciences Building
B
B. Distribution lines for Plant Sciences and
loop Steam and CHW to Med-plex.

Phase III Cost: $3.0 Million North Campus

Avoided Costs: $0.0 Million
Deferred Maintenance Costs: $0.0 Million

The University of Vermont

Utility Master Plan (UMP) & CHP Tri-generation Project 9
 *Phase IV : Nov 05 – Mar 08
Utility Master Planning and Combined Heat and Power (CHP) or Tri-generation

A. Tri-generation system – gas turbine

3.5 – 5.0 MW and Heat Recovery
Steam Generator (waste heat boiler)
A

B. Electrical distribution system (Not

Shown)

Phase IV Cost: $14.0 Million

Avoided Costs: $0.0 Million
Deferred Maintenance Costs: $2.0 Million
Central Heat Plant

The University of Vermont

Utility Master Plan (UMP) & CHP Tri-generation Project 11
Phase IV -Turbine
 Phase V : 2008-2014 (T)

Utility Master Planning and Combined Heat and Power (CHP) or Tri-generation

Future Campus Master Plan Directed

Initiatives:
North Campus
– Operating pressure at CHP could be
lowered for increased efficiency and cost-
savings.
– Shut down occurs for 4 days in May. No
a/c during that period for research
facilities. Looped distribution.

Desire would be to retrofit selected

North & South campus buildings and
then connect Steam Heat/Chilled Water
lines to these buildings

Cost: TBD

Phase V Cost: $?.? Million

Avoided Costs: $3.5 Million
Deferred Maintenance Costs: $0.0 Million

The University of Vermont

Utility Master Plan (UMP) & CHP Tri-generation Project 12
 Conventional Electrical Generation

Pollution

67% Waste Heat

Fuel
100% Power Plant 33% Electricity

(Remote from Users)

 Tri-Gen – CHP Plant

Waste Heat
&
Mechanical
Pollution 20% Losses

Electricity

Fuel 80% Steam

100%

CHP Plant Chilled

Water

Presently the University is permitted to operate only four of it’s five boilers at any one time. Note: Air pollution models are
currently based on # 6 fuel oil of 1% sulfur content. To date the University is just under the Major Threshold (NOX & SOX)
federal emission limits. In order to accommodate the proposed growth on campus by 2008 all five boilers must be
permitted to operate at the plant.
THANK YOU!