Modernizing Fort Gordon’s Central Energy Plant
When the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from Savannah, Georgia, needed assistance to modernize the Fort Gordon Central Energy Plant, they relied on Stanley Consultants for the modernization.
This project consisted of a complete field review of equipment condition, piping arrangements and performance history, the design firm provided demolition plans for the removal of existing equipment and supporting facilities, and then scheduled construction to allow the plant to remain in service throughout the duration of the project.
PROJECT FEATURES
Cooling Plant Modernization
- Install firm chilled water generating capacity using four new 2,000-ton electric motor-driven chillers
- Utilize two new 2-cell cooling towers with new constant speed condenser water circulation pumps
- Reconnect existing chilled water storage tank and free cooling heat exchanger
- Increase chilled water differential to 12 degrees F
Heating Plant Modernization
- Install three forced-circulation water tube HTW generators with capacity of 50 MMBTU each
- Employ primary-secondary hot water pumping scheme using three constant speed generator pumps and three variable speed distribution pumps
Electrical System Modernization
- Install redundant 15 kV (500 kcmil, copper) feeders from substation to plant
- Utilize 15 kV to 5 kV outdoor oil-filled unit-connected transformers connected to primary reactor type, reduced kVA starters for each chiller
- Employ double-ended 480 V unit substation to feed load distributed Motor Control Centers
- Install new 275 kVA standby, reciprocating engine generator
Control System Modernization
- Implement hybrid Single Loop Controller (SLC) and Direct Digital Control (DDC) system
- Extend the campus Energy Management and Control System (EMCS)
Fuel Oil Storage System Replacement
- Replace eight underground 50,000-gallon fuel oil storage tanks
- Determine number and size of new fuel oil storage tanks
Chilled Water Distribution System Modernization
- Interconnect two Central Energy Plants to increase reliability and reduce operating cost
- Convert direct primary, multi-zone radial feed system to primary-secondary-tertiary, single zone, looped system
- Replace approximately 15 miles of chilled water distribution piping
- Modify chilled water piping connections in nearly 140 buildings to decouple buildings from distribution system