daniel bullock director, gulf coast chp applications center houston advanced research center

Gulf Coast CHP Applications Center

Daniel BullockDirector, Gulf Coast CHP Applications CenterHouston Advanced Research Center

Moving knowledge to action to improve human well-being and the environment

Resilient Energy Systems:The CHP Solution

Katrina Forum: Sept. 25, 2006


Houston Advanced Research Center• Established 1982• Non-profit scientific research

institute• Sustainable development

mission– Environmental technology

commercialization– Research Management– Air Quality focus

• Located in the Woodlands, TX• Website: www.harc.edu


Regional Application Centers

Mid Atlanticwww.chpcenterma.org

Midwestwww.chpcentermw.org

Pacificwww.chpcenterpr.org

Northwest Regionwww.chpcenternw.org

Northeastwww.northeastchp.org

Intermountainwww.IntermountainCHP.org

The regional application centers will promote combined heating and power (CHP) technology and practices, serve as a central repository and clearinghouse of CHP information, and identify and help implement regional CHP projects.

Gulf Coastwww.gulfcoastchp.org

Southeasternwww.chpcenterse.org


Observations from Hurricanes Katrina & Rita


Observation 1

Over reliance on the central station electric utility model increased our

vulnerability to the hurricanes.

• The wood pole T&D system did not survive either Hurricanes Katrina or Rita and the result was prolonged power outages.


Hurricane Rita

• T&D Infrastructure Replacements– 981 wood transmission structures– 26 steel lattice transmission structures– 8970 wood distribution poles– 8040 distribution transformers

• 18,000 non-Entergy workers helped out• Losses = $380M ($1.5B including Katrina)


Observation 2

Those with power were the ones capable of self-generating electricity

• Self generation consisted primarily of backup generators, but also those with cogeneration/CHP plants


Diesel GenSets are Ubiquitous

• But they were NOT reliable!– Not in working order when needed– Didn’t hold up throughout the entire outage– Couldn’t be serviced (no parts or labor)– Quickly exhausted on-site fuel supplies– Limited ability to resupply fuel tanks– Systems were undersized– Remotely located units could not be delivered quickly– Located in basements and low lying areas– Poor return on investment


The CHP Solution

CHP is DG . . .• An integrated system• Operates around the

clock• Provides at least a

portion of the electrical load and

• Utilizes the thermal energy for:

– Cooling– Dehumidification– Water and space heat– Process heat


Electricity Electricity

HeatHeat

Combined Heat and Power

ConventionalGeneration

BuildingLoad

Power Plant fuel

(66 units of remote energy)

Boiler fuel(34 units of

on-site energy)

CHP fuel(x units of on-siteenergy)

Losses

Losses

20

29

20

29

8

51

465

6634

57 (57 units of on-site energy)

Conventional Generation vs. CHP

Eff. = 49% Eff. = 86%


Hurricanes Katrina and Rita:A Tale of Two Hospitals


Memorial Hermann Baptist HospitalBeaumont, TX

• Back up generators started, but could neither power the chillers nor maintain power due to length of outage

• The hospital reopened after 22 natural gas engines were brought in from Houston

• Most damage to the hospital was related to loss of HVAC -- humidity infiltration resulted in extensive damage to floors, ceiling tiles, medical supplies, and equipment

Hurricane Rita

• closed the hospital for a week

• caused over $30M in costs and damages


Mississippi Baptist Medical CenterJackson, MS

- Connection to MPG Restored

57 hr

-Main Power Grid (MPG) Failed-Alternate Power Grid Enabled-City Water Lost

1 hr

-Connection to MPG Restored-Load Shed performed (1.2 MW disconnected)-Pumping Trucks Supply Water to Physical Plant

3 hr

-Power Reliability Problems-Switched to CHP Operation Only-Elevators on Emergency Generators-Restricted use of MRI Equipment

5 hr

- 52 hrs of 100% operation on CHP- Only Hospital in the Jackson Metro Area to

be Nearly 100% Operational!!

August 29, 2005Hurricane KatrinaHits Jackson, MS


Value of On-site Generation

Mississippi Baptist Medical Center

• remained open throughout to treat a high volume of patients

• provided emergency clothing, food, and housing for people displaced during the first night of the disaster

• received patients from other medical facilities not able to remain open

• helped emergency responders establish operations


Observation 3

Natural gas supplies were generally available throughout on high

pressure pipes

• Tulane University reported sufficient natural gas pressure to operate their 5 MW campus system


Tulane University CHP Plant

• Campus has a 9 MW electrical load• 5 MW gas turbine provided “islanded” power and cooling to

critical campus facilities throughout Katrina• Cooling towers damaged, but remained operational • Switched to well water• 2000 ton chiller could not be restarted if tripped• Natural gas pressure available, but turbine switched to

diesel (3.5 day supply) due to compressor problem• Rising water forced system off as some switchgear went

underwater in the days after levees were breached• University staff looking to add capacity and flood protection


CHP in Louisiana

• Existing CHP Capacity (2004): 6 GW

• Undeveloped CHP Capacity (2004):– Industrial: 2.6 GW– Commercial: 1.6 GW


Commercial CHP Candidates• Hotels• Prisons• Airports• Hospitals• Universities• Grocery Stores• Wastewater Treatment• Refrigerated Warehouses• Emergency Management Facilities• Homeland Security & Sanctuary Locations• Industrials (Refineries, Chemical plants, Manufacturers)


CHP System Design Options

FACILITY DEMAND

THERMAL

ELECTRICAL

EXPORT or

WASTE

}

HIGHEST RELIABILITY

OPTION

Sized to meet electrical load

THERMAL

ELECTRICAL

EXCESS

THERMAL

HIGHEST EFFICIENCY

OPTION

}UTILITY SUPPLIED

Sized to meet thermal load THERMAL

ELECTRICAL

DEFICIT


Observation 4

Those that relied on regionally staged fuels, materials, parts, and

vendors were not well served.

• Regional evacuations and localized damage made delivery of power equipment and supplies nearly impossible.


CHP and Energy Resiliency

• CHP does NOT rely on wood poles• Natural gas provides reliable fuel to CHP

throughout prolonged outages• CHP can power whole facilities

– Lights, air conditioning, water purification, sewage, safety systems, high value areas, manufacturing

• CHP micro-grids can power city blocks and neighborhoods


Will LA Develop its CHP Potential?

Success depends on:• Providing mechanisms and incentives for utilities

to participate• Advancing CHP in new applications• Educating engineers, architects, and building

owners about the value of CHP• Financing “improved” solutions with insurance

and FEMA dollars


Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Albert Einstein


For more information:

Daniel BullockGulf Coast CHP Applications Center

(281) [email protected]

daniel bullock director, gulf coast chp applications center houston advanced research center

Documents

power chp technology

regional chp projects

prolonged power outages

medical supplies

equipmenthurricane rita

length of outagethe

fuel tankssystems

wood pole td system