And rightly so. The new addition is expected to dramatically curb pollutants from the massive system, in the process further reducing the campus' overall carbon footprint.
Behind the scenes, however, exists an equally crucial though much smaller energy-efficiency component. Called a Balance of Plant Control System (BOP), this computerized energy-management control and monitoring system links all of the various components, helping them to operate more efficiently.
Built by Portsmouth-based TVC Systems, the new BOP system developed in conjunction with the project team might appear to be operating in the shadows, so to speak. But one peek behind the curtain reveals the wizardry behind it all.
Basically what our system does, is it takes separate entities and brings them together so they can be better controlled and monitored, says Linda Tyring, president of TVC Systems. You can almost liken it to a car. A car has a battery, an engine, and a radiator, all of these different separately operating parts and then you turn the key, and everything works together providing power, heating and cooling.
TVC is currently constructing, programming and testing what are known as UL508A control panels, which Tyring expects to be completed by the end of summer. These control panels will be wired to TVC's shop simulators, where they will test what's known as a FAT (Factory Acceptance Test), in full view of officials from UMass and others involved in the project.
TVC will then ship materials to the site, to be installed by an electrical contractor. Once the installation is complete, TVC will assist with both the startup and commissioning activities. Tyring says she expects the BOP Control System to be fully operational by early 2012.
UMass campus buildings were originally tied into a single cogeneration system 30 years ago. Since then, campus emissions have proven to be significantly lower than if each facility had its own, separate HVAC system.
Modifications to the power plant conducted in 2002 resulted in even greater improvements in efficiency, with resulting greenhouse gas emissions now a full 15 percent lower than if the buildings had used stand-alone systems. Additionally, over the past five years, the amount of fuel oil used to supplement the natural gas burned has been reduced by roughly half.
Now, with the new TVC-built BOP Control System in place, those numbers are will improve even more.
"Individually, the efficiency of these systems by themselves might be 30 to 40 percent, explains Tyring. With the new system, the overall efficiency should improve to around 80-90 percent, while reducing carbon emissions.
What's more, in the event of a power outage, the UMass campus will have the capability to continue running a good portion of their heating, cooling, and electricity systems. Additionally, the burning of natural gas produces steam required to heat campus buildings during the winter months, and cold water used for air conditioning during the summer. Meanwhile, the steam produced for heating and cooling can be used a second time to produce electricity used on campus year round.
Some additional benefits of combined heat and power systems include: requiring less fuel to produce a given energy output; systems can be designed to provide high-quality electricity and thermal energy regardless of interruptions to the power grid; helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and saving facilities considerable amounts of money on their energy bills.
The project is similar in scope to one which TVC helped complete on the campus of the University of New Hampshire in 2003, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2009. Both projects succeeded in allowing the school to generate much of its own power from a single location. Then, in late 2008, TVC helped augment the UNH system in the form of a second turbine to allow it to run on methane generated from a Rochester landfill.
Instead of feeding the school's electricity needs, the surplus green energy produced by the second turbine is now back to the local power grid, administered by PSNH. Doing so will help UNH pay down its initial investment and, eventually, make money for the school.
Given the complex nature of their business, Tyring and TVC has focused its efforts in the past few years on promoting green initiatives both with respect to their projects, as well as their in-house efforts. To that end, in 2009 TVC became one of the first businesses to join Green Alliance, the Portsmouth-based green business union which helps certify and promote sustainability-minded companies throughout the region.
In 2010, TVC Systems was recognized by the EPA-CHP Partnership for their participation to date in 15 successfully implemented and completed CHP projects, resulting in significant power efficiencies and emission reductions.
To learn more about TVC systems, go to www.tvcsystems.com
For more information on Green Alliance, visit www.greenalliance.biz
Current Issue - April 2024