Combined Heat & Power (CHP) Resource Guide For Hospital Applications

Combined Heat & Power (CHP)

Resource Guide for Hospital

Applications
Published In 2007

Prepared by:
Midwest CHP Application Center

With the assistance of:
Avalon Consulting, Inc.

Energy and Environmental Analysis
PEA, Inc.
Important Definitions
Heating Value of Fuels

Higher Heating Value (HHV): Total thermal energy available, including heat of
condensation of water vapors, from complete combustion of a fuel
Lower Heating Value (LHV): Same as HHV, except it assumes heat of condensation is
not available
LHV is used for majority of calculations
Units LHV HHV LHV/HHV

Natural Gas Btu/SCF 950 1,050 0.905
#2 Fuel Oil Btu/Gallon 130,000 138,300 0.940
#6 Fuel Oil Btu/Gallon 143,000 150,500 0.950
Propane Btu/Gallon 84,650 92,000 0.920
Sewage/Landfill Btu/SCF 350 380 0.921
Coal - Bituminous Btu/lb 13,600 14,100 0.965
Capacity Factors
Based on equipment output vs. capacity
Electric = Avg. kW output (for a period)

(> 70% Desirable) System kW capacity
Thermal = Avg. Btu output (for a period)
(>80% Desirable) System capacity in Btu
Steam = Avg. lbs/h output (for a period)
(>80% Desirable) System capacity in lb/h
Load Factors
Based on site load data
Electric = Avg. kW (for a period)

Peak kW (for the period)
Thermal = Avg. Btu (for a period)
Peak Btu (for the period)
Calculating CHP Efficiency

Based on Lower Heating Value (LHV)
CHP Efficiency = (kWe x 3412.8) + (Recovered Thermal Energy)

Fuel Input (Btu/hr in LHV)
2 CHP Resource Guide for Hospitals

Disclaimer
The information in the CHP Resource Guide represents the best efforts by the Midwest CHP
Application Center at the time of publication. This Guide should be utilized ONLY as a
reference document for screening and estimating purposes. It is NOT intended as a tool for
developing detailed CHP designs or cost estimates.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION (PURPOSE OF THE GUIDEBOOK)........................................................... 6
SECTION 1: ENERGY CONCERNS OF U.S. HOSPITALS ................................................... 7
1.1 Inefficient Electric Power.......................................................................................... 7
1.2 Electric Reliability..................................................................................................... 7
1.3 Status of the Hospital Construction Industry............................................................ 7
1.4 Oversized Emergency Generator Sets .................................................................... 8
1.5 Issues Facing Hospital Facility Managers................................................................ 8
SECTION 2: CHP BASICS ............................................................................................... 9
2.1 Definitions: Distributed Generation (DG) and Combined Heat & Power (CHP) ....... 9
2.2 The CHP Concept.................................................................................................... 9
2.2.1 Direct Fired....................................................................................................... 9
2.2.2 Indirect Fired Concept.................................................................................... 10
2.3 Normal Operating Configuration ............................................................................ 11
SECTION 3: ENERGY SYSTEMS AT HOSPITALS ...................................................... 12
3.1 Conventional Energy System for Hospitals............................................................ 12
3.2 Typical Hospital CHP System Configurations........................................................ 13
SECTION 4: CHP AND HOSPITALS – A GOOD MATCH............................................. 14
4.1 Key Factors for CHP Financial Attractiveness ....................................................... 14
4.1.1 Good Electric and Thermal Load Coincidence............................................... 14
4.1.2 Cost Differential Between Electricity and the CHP Fuel (Spark Spread) ....... 15
4.1.3 Long Operating Hours.................................................................................... 17
4.1.4 Power Reliability and Power Quality .............................................................. 18
4.2 CHP Market Challenges ........................................................................................ 19
SECTION 5: CHP EQUIPMENT ..................................................................................... 20
5.1 Equipment Building Blocks .................................................................................... 20
5.2 Prime Mover Selection........................................................................................... 21
5.3 Generators and Inverters ....................................................................................... 21
5.3.1 Generator Characteristics: ............................................................................. 21
5.3.1.1 Synchronous Generators ........................................................................... 22
5.3.1.2 Induction Generators.................................................................................. 22
5.3.2 Inverter Characteristics: ................................................................................. 23
5.4 Grid Interconnection............................................................................................... 23
5.4.1 Distribution Grid Configurations ..................................................................... 25
5.4.1.1 Radial Systems: ......................................................................................... 25
5.4.1.2 Looped and Network Systems: .................................................................. 25
5.4.2 Parallel Operation with the Utility Grid ........................................................... 26
5.4.2.1 Export Mode............................................................................................... 26
5.4.2.2 Non-Export Mode ....................................................................................... 26
5.4.3 Black Start Capability ..................................................................................... 27
SECTION 6: FEASIBILITY EVALUATION..................................................................... 28
6.1 Collect Site Data .................................................................................................... 28
6.2 Level 1: Preliminary Analysis ................................................................................. 29
6.3 Level 2 Site Screening Analysis............................................................................. 30
6.4 Level 3 Conceptual Design and Financial Analysis ............................................... 31
6.5 Level 4 Detailed Design and Engineering Analysis ............................................... 32
SECTION 7: HOSPITAL ENERGY LOADS ................................................................... 33
SECTION 8: HOSPITAL CHP INSTALLATIONS........................................................... 36
APPENDICES……………………………………..…………………………………………………38

Table 3-1 Emergency Generators vs. CHP Systems ........................................................... 13
Table 4-1 Estimating “Spark Spread” ................................................................................... 16
Table 4-2 “Rules-of-Thumb” for Acceptable Average Annual Fuel Cost ............................. 17
Table 5-1 Calculating the T/P Ratio...................................................................................... 21
Table 5-2 Recommended Prime Mover Technology Based on T/P Ratio ............................ 21
Table 6-1 CHP Software Evaluation Tools ........................................................................... 31
Figure 2-1 Combined Heat and Power Diagram – Direct Fired .............................................. 9
Figure 2-2 Combined Heat and Power Diagram – Indirect Fired.......................................... 10
Figure 5-1 CHP Building Blocks Diagram............................................................................. 20
Figure 5-2 State Interconnecting Ruling Status .................................................................... 24
Figure 7-1 Electric Energy Distribution in Hospitals.............................................................. 34
Figure 7-2 Natural Gas Distribution in Hospitals................................................................... 34
Figure 7-3 Monthly Electric Consumption – 240,000 SF Hospital ........................................ 35
Figure 7-4 Monthly Maximum Electric Demand – 240,000 SF Hospital ............................... 35
Figure 7-5 Monthly Natural Gas Consumption – 240,000 SF Hospital................................. 35
Figure 8-1 Number of CHP Installations and Installed Capacity (Megawatts) in U.S.
Hospitals by Prime Mover Type ......................................................................... 37
Hospitals by Fuel Type ...................................................................................... 37

INTRODUCTION (PURPOSE OF THE GUIDEBOOK)
The primary objective of this guidebook is to provide a reference document of basic

information for hospital managers when considering the application of combined heat and
power (CHP) in the healthcare industry, specifically in hospitals. Hospital administrators are
faced with rising and uncertain energy costs, the requirement for higher energy reliability,
increasing environmental demands, and shrinking facility budgets. The need exists to
constantly evaluate realistic alternatives to today’s conventional approaches to meeting
energy demands.
CHP is an approach that can help address these energy, environmental, and security issues
in hospitals. Nationally, CHP exists in over 3,000 sites generating approximately 83,000 MW
of electric power (approximately 9% of the total electric generation in the U.S.).1 Today, CHP
is installed in only approximately 4% of the active stock of U.S. hospitals.
This guidebook should be useful to energy engineers, facility operations directors/managers,

energy auditors, and others that support and/or service the healthcare and hospital industry.
The guidebook provides “packets” of information in the form of basic principles and “rules-of-
thumb” regarding the evaluation and suitability of the use of CHP systems at their hospital
facility.
The hospital guidebook was developed by the Midwest CHP Application Center (MAC) with
assistance from Avalon Consulting Inc., Energy and Environmental Analysis Inc., and PEA
Inc. The MAC is one of eight regional CHP application centers established by the U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE) to develop technology application knowledge and the
educational infrastructure necessary to foster CHP as a viable energy option and reduce any
perceived risks associated with its implementation. The regional application centers provide:
• Targeted Education
• Unbiased Information
• Technical Assistance
For more information on the MAC, please visit our website at:
www.chpcentermw.org
Appendix C of this guidebook provides a list and contact information for all eight regional
CHP application centers.
1
Hedman, Bruce. “The Role of CHP in the Nation’s Energy System.” USCHPA Annual Meeting. PowerPoint
presentation. 2 November 2007. <http://www.uschpa.org/MembersOnly/2007Conf/Hedman.ppt>

SECTION 1: ENERGY CONCERNS OF U.S. HOSPITALS
1.1 Inefficient Electric Power

The national average for converting fuel to electric power (fuel-use efficiency) through
conventional means (central station plants) is about 33%, which means that the remaining
67% of the fuel energy is wasted: either being exhausted into the atmosphere or discharged
into water streams. CHP systems recover part of that wasted energy by recovering ~55% of
the fuel energy in the exhaust to provide the heating, cooling, and/or dehumidification needs
of co-located buildings and/or industrial processes. Combining that with a ~30% fuel energy
conversion to electricity, CHP systems can have a fuel-use efficiency as high as 85%.
1.2 Electric Reliability

Electric grid reliability and the ability of electric utility customers to rely on continuous
uninterrupted electric service is becoming an increasing problem. This is due in part to an
aged electric utility grid infrastructure that is increasingly taxed each year as the nation’s
electric consumption continues to grow. The U.S. DOE Energy Information Agency projects
over 360 GWe of new capacity over the next 10 years to meet growing demand and to
compensate for power plant retirements. At a recent electric industry meeting, a
representative from the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) stated that over $150 billion
per year is lost to industry in the U.S. due to electric network (reliability) problems and that
500,000 customers are without electricity for a minimum of 1 hour every day in the US.
Hospitals are taking a renewed interest in power reliability due to the events of Hurricane
Katrina in 2005, the Midwest & Northeast Blackout of 2003, and the threat of possible man-
made (terrorist) disasters. CHP systems have demonstrated their ability to keep hospitals up-
and-running at full capacity during instantaneous as well as prolonged electric utility grid
outages.
Mississippi Baptist Medical Center, located in Jackson, MS.

experienced a complete electric utility grid outage for 52 hours during
Hurricane Katrina in August of 2005. The installed CHP system
allowed the hospital to continue 100% operation while providing
shelter, food, and clothing to displaced patients from other area
hospitals and stranded local citizens. The medical center is a 624
bed full service hospital. More information is available at:
www.chpcenterse.org/reports/chp-mbmc.pdf
1.3 Status of the Hospital Construction Industry

Hospital construction remains strong and is projected to remain strong for at least the next
five years. This is due in part to major rehabilitation of older facilities and to the expansion of
existing facilities to accommodate business consolidations within the industry. Also, the U.S.
Department of Labor (2005) predicts the number of people in older age groups, with much
greater than average healthcare needs, will grow faster than the total population between
2002 and 2012. This will increase the demand for health services.

The capital investment in a CHP system is best justified during a
major upgrade of a hospital facility that includes the operating
systems (HVAC, Emergency Generators, etc).
1.4 Oversized Emergency Generator Sets

Another characteristic of the healthcare industry is the increase in the number and capacity
of the emergency generator sets being installed in hospitals. The size of generators installed
(in terms of kW), tend to go well beyond minimum code requirements to meet “life critical”
loads. More and more circuits are being added to these generator sets to ensure a sense of
added reliability. CHP systems, although usually more expensive to procure and install than
diesel engine generator sets, provide significant advantages. They are installed to operate
continuously and in parallel with the grid, thus providing substantial energy cost savings
while also providing the increased reliability. Emergency generator sets can then be
downsized to meet the code requirements of backing up the “life critical” loads of the facility.
1.5 Issues Facing Hospital Facility Managers

Finally, a presentation made at an American Society of Hospital Engineers meeting outlined
several priority issues faced by hospitals in terms of facility operation and maintenance. They
included:
¾ Managing budgets to meet growing utility costs
¾ Power reliability & redundancy
¾ Competing with clinical equipment for Capital $
¾ Environmental issues
¾ System (HVAC & Power) reliability for easier growth / expansion
¾ New technologies
¾ Test/inspect/maintain electric distribution system
Although CHP is not the only way to address these supply side priority issues, certainly CHP
is one option.

SECTION 2: CHP BASICS
2.1 Definitions: Distributed Generation (DG) and Combined Heat & Power
(CHP)
• Distributed Generation (DG):

¾ An electric Generator
¾ Located at a utility substation or near a building / facility
¾ Provides at least a portion of the electric load required by the building /
facility
¾ Emergency generator sets utilized at hospitals are a form of DG
• Combined Heat and Power (CHP):

¾ An integrated system
¾ Located at or near a building or facility
¾ Provides at least a portion of the electric load required by the building /
facility
¾ Recycles the thermal energy from the generation equipment for
o Space heating / cooling
o Process heating / cooling
o Dehumidification
¾ CHP is a Form or Type of Distributed Generation
2.2 The CHP Concept
2.2.1 Direct Fired
Figure 2-1 Combined Heat and Power Diagram – Direct Fired

• Electric generation efficiency is approximately 35% (not much better than central
station power)
• Approximately 50% of the fuel input energy can be recycled for useful thermal energy
purposes
• If the application has coincident & simultaneous use for the electric and recycled
thermal energy, the CHP system can reach efficiencies of 80% to 85%
• Hospitals have long operating hours and require large amounts of thermal energy.
Total system efficiency (electric and thermal) of a CHP system in a hospital has the
potential to reach 70% to 80%, versus 40% to 55% when utilizing conventional
energy systems.
• Higher system energy efficiency typically results in lower energy bills, lower carbon
footprint for the hospital, and lower overall source emissions.
2.2.2 Indirect Fired Concept
Figure 2-2 Combined Heat and Power Diagram – Indirect Fired
• The fuel is utilized to produce high pressure steam through a boiler (boiler efficiencies
~ 80% to 85% HHV)
• The steam is utilized for both the hospital thermal loads and to operate the CHP
system
• The CHP system generates utility grade electricity by utilizing the pressure drop in the
steam through a steam turbine
• Steam can be extracted from the turbine to assist in meeting the hospital thermal
loads

The University of Iowa operates an indirect-fired 24.9 MW CHP plant
that generates 100% of the required steam and 30% of the required
electricity consumed by the campus. The system consists of 4 boilers
with a 540,000 lb/hr steam generating capacity and 3 steam turbines
of various sizes ranging from 3.5 to 17.4 MW. The University of Iowa
Hospitals and Clinics are located on campus and are serviced by the
CHP plant. More information is available at:
http://www.chpcentermw.org/pdfs/Project_Profile_University_of_Iowa.pdf
2.3 Normal Operating Configuration
• CHP systems are normally installed in parallel with the electric grid (CHP does not
replace the grid)
• Both the CHP and grid supply electricity to the customer
• Recycled heat from the prime mover is used for:
¾ Space Heating (Steam or Hot Water Loop)
¾ Space Cooling (Absorption Chiller)
¾ Process Heating and/or Cooling (in hospitals this might include equipment
sterilization, laundry, kitchen, general hot water needs, etc)
¾ Dehumidification (Desiccant Regeneration)
• By sizing the CHP for the thermal requirements of the facility, we are most times,
ensuring the highest coincidence of thermal and electric power requirements, thus
providing the highest CHP system efficiency

SECTION 3: ENERGY SYSTEMS AT HOSPITALS
3.1 Conventional Energy System for Hospitals
• Electricity:
¾ Purchased from the local utility (regulated market); purchased from the utility
or competitive electric provider (deregulated market)
¾ Power generated at central station power plants
¾ Normally generated at approximately 30% energy efficiency (10 units of fuel in,
3 units of electric power (kW) out)
¾ 70% of the fuel energy lost in the form of heat vented to the atmosphere
• Thermal (heating):
¾ Normally generated on-site with multiple natural gas or coal-fired boilers
¾ Either hot water loop or steam loop
¾ Boilers generate steam or hot water at energy efficiencies between 60% to
80% (most new boilers are in the 80% range) – 10 units of fuel in, 6 to 8 units
of heat out
• Thermal (cooling):
¾ Normally use electric chillers with chilled water loop (operate on electric power
supplied from the local utility)
¾ May use absorption chillers (central heating/cooling plant or smaller systems
located at specific buildings) in conjunction with electric chillers to offset peak
electric demands.
¾ Absorption chillers are either direct fired (natural gas fueled) or indirect fired
utilizing hot water or steam generated from the boilers.
• Conventional System Energy Efficiency (Grid Power + On-Site Thermal)

¾ System efficiency depends on heat/power ratio
¾ Typical system efficiencies range from 40% to 55%
• Emergency Generator Sets:

¾ A requirement at hospitals is for all “life critical” circuits to comply with the
emergency generator requirements detailed in the National Fire Protection
Association (NFPA) standards.
¾ Many hospitals are increasing the capacity and number of emergency
generator sets installed at their facility to accommodate loads well beyond
those classified as “life critical”. This is to help ensure the reliability of
operation of the entire facility during energy emergency situations.
¾ Most emergency generator sets are diesel fueled, incapable of continuous
extended operation, and normally have enough fuel on-site for hours versus
days of operation.

A unique situation exists at Beloit Memorial Hospital located in Beloit,
Wisconsin where a dual-fueled 3.0 MW CHP system replaced the aging
diesel-fired emergency generator sets. The dual-fueled CHP system
meets the 10 second start-up time requirements for emergency power
generation approved by Wisconsin’s Department of Health and Family
Services. The system starts up operating primarily on diesel fuel. Once
the system has reached full load, the fuel mixture converts to a higher
concentration of natural gas enabling the CHP system to continuously
operate. For more information visit:
http://public.ornl.gov/mac/pdfs/factsheets/Beloit%20Hospital.pdf
3.2 Typical Hospital CHP System Configurations
• CHP system capacity for hospitals typically ranges from several hundred kilowatts to
several Megawatts (usually below 10 Megawatts) depending on the size of the facility.
• Prime movers employed in hospital CHP systems normally include natural gas
reciprocating engines, natural gas turbines, or steam turbines (operating on the
steam generated by natural gas, oil, or coal boilers).
• Hospitals with steam loops and/or electric capacities of several megawatts often use
gas turbines with heat recovery steam generators.
• Hospitals with hot water loops often times use reciprocating engines.
• Most Hospital CHP systems are sized for the thermal load requirements, with the
resulting electric power generated used to first offset the power purchased from the
utility grid and if/when the system is generating more electric power than required at
the hospital, the excess power can be sold back to the utility.
• CHP systems do not replace the need for emergency generator sets to meet the “life
critical loads” of a hospital, but they can reduce the number and capacity of the
emergency generators required while increasing the total electric reliability for the
hospital
Table 3-1 Emergency Generators vs. CHP Systems
Emergency Generators vs. CHP Systems

Emergency Generators CHP System
- Minimum requirement, sized to - Sized to meet thermal or electric
meet “life critical loads loads – operates continuously to
meet those loads
- Hospitals are installing larger
generators to protect more and - Natural gas fueled – low emissions
more hospital loads
- Does not replace emergency
- Diesel fueled – high emissions & generator set for “life critical” loads
limited amount of stored fuel
- Reduces overall size and capacity
(hours versus days of operation)
of emergency generator sets
- Not designed or capable of
- Emergency generator sets
continuous operation for long
become backup to the backup;
periods of time – rarely operates
much higher reliability
- Financial payback only in times
- Good financial return
of emergency

SECTION 4: CHP AND HOSPITALS – A GOOD MATCH
4.1 Key Factors for CHP Financial Attractiveness

1. Good coincidence between the electric and thermal loads
2. High cost differential (Spark Spread) between the purchase prices of electricity from
the grid and fuel for the CHP system. Typically looking for spark spreads above
$12/MMBtu
3. Long operating hours (greater than 3,000 hours annually)
4. High importance placed on electric power quality and reliability
5. Major building renovation, change-out of central heating/cooling plant, or new
construction that allows comparison of cost differential with and without CHP
installed (the smaller the premium the better)2
In 1995, Northwest Community Hospital of Arlington Heights, Illinois,

contemplated a $112 million capital investment for expansion while also facing an
aging stock of boilers, chillers, and piping.2 After reviewing several options, the
hospital decided to build a new central utilities plant that included a $2.1 million
incremental cost to install a 3.5 MW CHP system. The hospital expansion
presented an ideal opportunity to investigate the concepts and benefits of CHP.
For more information visit:
http://www.chpcentermw.org/pdfs/Project_Profile_Northwest_Community_Hospital.pdf
4.1.1 Good Electric and Thermal Load Coincidence
The questions to be studied and evaluated are:

V Does the hospital need heat at the same time that it needs electricity?
V How much heat (Btu/hr) does the hospital need at the same time it needs
electricity (kWh)?
The better the match, the higher the fuel use efficiency of the CHP system, and
the more likely the financial payback will be favorable.
V What should be considered in getting the best use of thermal energy?

Winter - Space Heating
- Water Heating
- Process Heating (laundry, sterilization, laboratory
requirements, other hospital needs)
Summer - Water Heating
- Process Heating
- Space Cooling*
- Space Dehumidification** (operating rooms)
Fall / Spring - Water Heating
- Process Heating
2
Engle, David. “Miracle Cure for Utility-Rate Headaches.” Distributed Energy – The Journal for Onsite Power
Solutions. March/April 2005. 13 November 2007 <http://www.forester.net/de_0503_miracle.html>.

Intermittent Space Heating/Cooling*
* Utilizing absorption chillers fueled by the exhaust thermal energy from the
prime mover has two benefits:
1) Reduces peak electric demand and electricity charges by reducing the
operating time of electric chillers
2) Increases the electric to thermal load coincidence in the summer
months providing higher efficiencies.
** Utilizing desiccants regenerated by the exhaust thermal energy from the

prime mover has two similar benefits
1) Reduces peak electric demand and electricity charges by reducing the
load on electric chillers by removing the latent heat load (condensing out the
humidity)
2) Increases the electric to thermal load coincidence in the summer
months by using thermal energy used to regenerate the desiccant system.
Rule-of-Thumb: If > 50% of the available thermal energy from the prime mover
can be used on an annual basis, CHP makes good $ense.
• The ability to use as much of the available exhaust thermal energy from the prime
mover throughout the entire year makes the savings from a CHP system higher
and the payback quicker.
4.1.2 Cost Differential Between Electricity and the CHP Fuel (Spark Spread)
The most common fuel utilized in Hospital CHP plants today is natural gas. For that reason,
the following example for calculating Spark Spread is done assuming natural gas is the fuel
of choice for the CHP system. However, if other fuels or combination of fuels are used for the
CHP system, a similar approach would be used comparing the MMBtu cost of electricity to
the MMBtu cost of the applicable CHP fuel.
For an accurate financial analysis of a CHP system, a model should be utilized that
develops hour-by-hour electric and thermal load profiles and utilizes actual
electric and gas rates applied to the hour-by-hour load profiles to determine annual
savings

For a first cut, very rough “Rule-of-Thumb” screening of the viability of CHP at a hospital
utilizing natural gas, the cost differential between electricity and natural gas (“Spark
Spread”) can be estimated as follows:
Table 4-1 Estimating “Spark Spread”
1. Determine the Average Annual Electric Cost ($/MMBtu):

Sum the total cost for electricity from the last 12 months of bills (including
a.
demand charge):
Total Cost $
b. Sum the number of kWh utilized over the last 12 months of bills:
Total kWh kWh
c. Divide the Total Cost by the Total kWh:
Average Annual Electric Cost $ /kWh
Multiply the Average Annual Electric Cost ($/kWh) by 293 to convert to
d.
$/MMBtu:
Average Annual Electric Cost $ /MMBTU
2. Determine the Average Gas Cost ($/MMBtu):
a. Sum the total cost for gas from the last 12 months of bills:
Total Cost $
b. Sum the number of Therms utilized over the last 12 months of bills:
Total Therms $ Therms
c. Divide the Total Cost by the Total Therms:
Average Annual Gas Cost $ /Therm
Multiply the Average Annual Gas Cost ($/Therms) by 10 (for NG) to
d.
convert to $/MMBTU:
Average Annual Gas Cost $ /MMBTU
3. Determine the “Spark Spread”:
a. Average Annual Electric Cost (1.d.) $ /MMBTU
b. Minus Average Annual Gas Cost (2.d) $ /MMBTU
"Spark Spread" $
4. Is the “Spark Spread” >$12/MMBtu? Yes / No
If Yes, than CHP has the potential for favorable payback.
If No, than CHP may not have the potential for a favorable payback unless there are other
benefits such as increased electric reliability or a need for backup power, a desire to
increase energy efficiency, governmental support or incentives, etc. that can be
considered to make CHP attractive.
Operating hospital CHP systems only during peak electric demand periods of the day
(approximately 10 to 12 hrs/day, 5 to 7 days/wk, 3,000+ hrs/year) can be financially
attractive. This is due to the potential for significant differences in both electric energy and
demand charges in on-peak versus off-peak periods of the day.
If the “Spark Spread” calculation results in a cost differential of less than $12/MMBTU,
it is suggested that the “Spark Spread” calculation be redone utilizing on-peak electric
and gas useage and costs. Many utility bills separate on-peak from off-peak useage
and costs. For more information on how to calculate the true on-peak cost of
purchased electricity, see Section 6.3 and Appendix D.

Table 4.2 below provides “Rules-of-Thumb” that estimate the conversion for a
$12/MMBTU “Spark Spread” between electric and natural gas costs based on average annual
fuel cost.
Table 4-2 “Rules-of-Thumb” for Acceptable Average Annual Fuel Cost
Average Annual Electric Maximum Acceptable Average

Energy Cost Annual Fuel Cost
(¢/kWh) ($/MMBtu)
≤4 insufficient spark spread
5 2.6
6 5.6
7 8.5
8 11
9 14
10 17
4.1.3 Long Operating Hours

The operating strategy for most CHP plants is rather simple in theory; operate the plant
when you can generate electricity at a lower cost than you would pay if purchasing the
electricity from the utility grid, taking into consideration both electric energy (kWh) and
electric demand charges (kW).
If the electric supplier has higher energy and demand rates for “peak” time,
generally considered to be during normal weekday daytime business hours
charges, it may be beneficial to look for the $12 spark spread during the “peak”
hours and operate the CHP system only during those hours.
• Often times, the facility managers will operate the CHP system only during the peak
electric rate periods of the day, which might be 12 to 14 hours per day. If you
operate 12 hours per day, 5 days per week, the CHP annual operating hours will be
approximately 3,000 hours per year.
V What constitutes Long Operating Hours?
It depends …
• Over 6,000 hours/year, typical in hospital applications where there is a 24/7 use for
thermal energy, are normally good sites provided the $12/MMBtu differential is met.
• Between 5,000 to 6,000 hours/year, with good thermal utilization of the exhaust
heat from the prime mover, the financial benefits may be favorable, but a more
detailed assessment should be done.
• Between 3,000 and 5,000 hours/year, payback may be sufficient enough to be
financially favorable, but a more detailed analysis should be considered.

• Less than 3,000 hours/year will normally not generate enough energy cost
savings to justify investing in a CHP system unless other factors as previously
discussed are taken into consideration.
4.1.4 Power Reliability and Power Quality

Power Reliability
• Backup and Emergency Power … are NOT the same. Emergency power required
for hospital “life critical” loads can not be replaced by a CHP system (CHP will likely
NOT meet the “quick” start requirements of less than 8 to 10 seconds). However,
emergency generator sets are NOT designed to run continuously, so lengthy
electric outages can cause hospital operations to shut down.
• CHP can provide additional reliability to those sites that need emergency power
by:
¾ Reducing the number and capacity of the emergency generators by
allowing non-life critical loads to be supplied by the CHP system,
¾ Reducing the need for emergency generator starts, because the CHP
system provides the normal supply of power, which is in turn backed up by
the utility grid.
¾ Further Reducing the need for emergency generator starts, because should
the electric grid be de-energized (power outage), the CHP system can
continue to supply power to the hospital. The emergency generator set
becomes the backup to the backup, resulting in additional reliability.
¾ Allowing more “business critical” loads to be kept on during utility grid
outages or perturbations.
¾ Providing cooling (“emergency cooling”) if power is lost from the utility.
• If backup power is needed, CHP systems can generally meet those requirements, as
they are capable of being started within minutes.
Power Quality
• Since most of the CHP systems are paralleled to the grid, the CHP system and the
utility grid synergistically support each other to provide better power quality. If
there is a perturbation on the grid, the CHP prime mover will adjust to mitigate it; if
there is a perturbation on the owners electrical system (such as from an elevator
motor starting) the grid will serve to mitigate that perturbation.
• Hospitals are very susceptible to “voltage sags” or instantaneous electric grid outages.
These conditions can trip large medical diagnostic equipment which results in patient
delays and loss of revenue. CHP systems will ride through most voltage sags or
instantaneous electric grid outages, providing better power quality, reliability and
financial advantage.

Lake Forest Hospital, located in Lake Forest, Illinois reported that their 3.2 MW
reciprocating engine CHP system reduced their instantaneous grid outages or
voltage sags in year one of the system operation from over 50 occurrences to
two. This was valued by the hospital of saving them over $640,000 in that year.
More information is available at:
http://public.ornl.gov/mac/pdfs/factsheets/Lake%20Forest%20Hospital%20%20Pr
oject%20Profile.pdf
Prior to the 1989 installation of a 3.8 MW CHP system at Little Company of Mary
Hospital, located in Evergreen Park, Illinois, the hospital experienced
approximately 30 instantaneous power outages per year affecting data
processors, lab testing and other critical equipment and procedures. The CHP
system eliminated nearly all instantaneous outages and frustations on behalf of
the staff and patients due to the power outages. For more information visit:
http://public.ornl.gov/mac/pdfs/factsheets/Lake%20Forest%20Hospital%20%20Pr
oject%20Profile.pdf
4.2 CHP Market Challenges

• Unstable & uncertain energy prices (usually results in hospitals taking a wait-and-
see attitude toward energy investments of this magnitude)
• Lack of awareness of the technology concept, status, benefits, and issues
• Electric utility resistance to connecting CHP systems to their electric distribution
grid
• Need for internal champions: technical and financial
• Need to compete for capital development funds
• Quantifying non energy saving benefits (reduced outages, emergency / disaster
planning)
• Not enough “sizzle” versus wind, solar, and/or biomass

SECTION 5: CHP EQUIPMENT
5.1 Equipment Building Blocks

• Appendix A to this guidebook provides many useful characteristics and “rules of
thumb” that can be utilized when considering the selection, size, and configuration of
the CHP equipment. The appendix covers the prime movers, heat recovery, and
thermally activated equipment.
• The characteristics and “rules of thumb” for Generators and Grid Interconnection
are provided in this section. This was done since the equipment and concept
selections in these two areas are most scrutinized and discussed when dealing with
the local electric utility and it is essential that one understands the viewpoints and
preferences of the utilities versus the CHP application.
Figure 5-1 CHP Building Blocks Diagram

5.2 Prime Mover Selection
To initiate a discussion on CHP configurations for a particular installation and especially
when doing a feasibility assessment, it is desirable to have a feel for which type of prime
mover would be best suited for the application. There is a “Rule-of-Thumb” that can be
utilized to provide this first cut evaluation or feel. The approach utilizes the Thermal to
Electric (T/P) Ratio that can be estimated using the hospital’s utility bills. The following
provides how to calculate the T/P ratio for your facility:
• Calculate the T/P Ratio

Table 5-1 Calculating the T/P Ratio
1. Determine Thermal Use

a. Sum the number of Therms utilized over the last 12 months of bills:
Total Therms Therms
b. Multiply the Total Therms by 100,000 to get Thermal Btu:
Total Thermal Energy Purchased Btu
Multiply the Total Thermal Energy Purchased by Boiler/Equipment
c. Efficiency (typically 0.8) Btu
Total Thermal Energy Delivered/Used
2. Determine Electrical Use
a. Sum the number of kWh utilized over the last 12 months of bills:
Total kWh kWh
b. Multiply the Total kWh by 3413 to get Btu
Total Electric Btu
3. Determine T/P Ratio
Divide Total Thermal (Btu) by Total Electric (Btu):
T/P Ratio
• Use T/P Ratio to find the recommended technology

Table 5-2 Recommended Prime Mover Technology Based on T/P Ratio
If T/P =
0.5 to 1.5 Consider engines
1 to10 Consider gas turbines
3 to 20 Consider steam turbines
5.3 Generators and Inverters

5.3.1 Generator Characteristics:
• CHP systems that utilize reciprocating engines, gas turbines, or steam turbines
as their prime mover technologies convert the mechanical shaft power to electricity
through the use of an electric generator.
• Generators produce AC power and operate on the principle that voltage is induced in
a wire held in a rotating magnetic field

• The amount of voltage induced is proportional to the strength of the magnetic field
and speed with which the wire is rotated relative to the magnetic field
• The frequency of the power depends on the generator’s rotational speed (revolutions
per minute – rpm)
• Generators require relays for voltage, frequency, and impedance protection
There are two types of generators utilized in CHP systems:
5.3.1.1 Synchronous Generators

• Internally (self) excited generators that do not need the grid to provide the
source of excitation
• Preferred by CHP owners because the CHP system has the potential to
continue to produce power through grid brownouts and blackouts (this is the
same reason utilities prefer not to have synchronous generators
interconnected to their grid – Without a synchronous generator, the CHP
system can never feed back onto a de-energized grid)
• More complex and costly to safely interconnect to the grid (must ensure that
when the grid is de-energized, the CHP system can not export power to the
“downed” grid)
• Provides greater electrical power reliability to the customer – the CHP system
provides backup during grid failure, the grid provides backup during CHP
system failure
• To connect a synchronous generator to the grid,
¾ Prime mover brings generator to correct speed (frequency matches
the grid)
¾ Generator then switched to the grid – frequency is locked into the
grid and voltage is determined by the grid.
¾ Changes in the prime mover speed only affects the power level (load
following)
¾ By varying the excitation current, reactive power can be drawn from
or delivered to the grid (can aid in power factor correction)
• Once the generator is disconnected from the grid, the speed of the generator
and engine must be tightly controlled in order to maintain proper frequency
5.3.1.2 Induction Generators

• Requires an external source of power to operate (grid provides the source of
excitation)
• Preferred by Utilities because the CHP system can not operate if the grid is
de-energized. This ensures that no power can be fed into a “downed” grid
ensuring the safety and integrity of the grid and utility service personnel.

• Does not enhance electrical power reliability to the customer – the grid is de-
energized, the CHP system shuts down.
• Simpler less costly to safely connect to the grid
• Since induction generators only draw reactive power from the grid, they can
negatively affect power factor and may require adding capacitors for power
factor correction
Power Factor is defined as the measure of the efficiency with which the
total power delivered by a source is used for real work (real versus
reactive power). All facilities (hospitals) contain a mixture of resistive and
reactive (mainly inductive) loads. Low power factors occur when there
is no correction for large inductive loads in a facility. Power factor is
important to electric utilities and customers are required to correct for low
power factors or pay higher utility bills. Adding capacitors to the facility is
the most common way of correcting low power factors due to inductive
loads. The effect of CHP installations with synchronous generators can
have an overall positive effect on a facility’s power factor.
5.3.2 Inverter Characteristics:

• CHP systems that utilize fuel cells and micro-turbines as their prime mover
technology utilize inverter technology to provide utility grade electricity.
• Inverters are devices that convert DC power to utility grade AC power (used with fuel
cells and micro-turbines)
• Inverter output voltage and frequency automatically synchronize with the voltage and
frequency of the interconnected utility grid
• Provides improved power quality (greater flexibility in correcting/adjusting power
factor
• Inverter based systems “shut down” when the grid is de-energized (outage)
• If an inverter based micro-turbine CHP system is equipped with “black start”
capability, it can be restarted and operate the loads “independent” of the grid
Since CHP systems operate in parallel with the electric utility grid and must be
interconnected to the grid, it is advisable to contact your local electric utility
early in the evaluation process to understand their position on CHP and their
rules and regulations for interconnecting to their grid. Failure to do this early in the
5.4 process
Grid could result in high costs and long delays (especially if the utility is not
Interconnection
favorable to CHP).

Many states have either adopted or are in the process of adopting standard
grid interconnection rules and procedures for DG and CHP systems that are
interconnected to local utility distribution grids. These state standards are all
based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers technical
interconnection protocols – IEEE 1547. You should check with your utility or
state utility commission to see if such state standards exist in your state. As
of late 2007, see the map below regarding status in your state:
Figure 5-2 State Interconnecting Ruling Status3
• When connecting an on-site generator to a utility grid, the major concerns include:
¾ Safety of customers, line workers, and general public
¾ Integrity of the grid – quality of service
¾ Protection of connected equipment (including the on-site generator)
¾ System Control by the Utility
• Power Safety
¾ An on-site generator can not feed power back onto a de-energized grid.
¾ Utilities require interconnect designs that ensure this happens automatically
¾ Most utilities require an additional external disconnect switch be installed that
is accessible by utility personnel to disconnect and lock out the CHP system
from the grid
¾ Reverse power relays can be used in non-exporting installations to ensure no
power flow onto the grid
3
“Interconnection Standards Fact Sheet.” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Combined Heat and Power
Partnership. 31 October 2007. <http://www.epa.gov/chp/state-policy/interconnection_fs.html>.

• Grid Integrity
¾ An onsite generator can not degrade the quality of power supplied by the
utility as measured by:
- Voltage and frequency stability
- Power factor
- Harmonic content
¾ Power supplied by CHP systems with synchronous generators normally
exceed the power quality from the grid
• Grid Operations & Dispatch

¾ Any CHP installation must be reviewed with the local utility to ensure that the
utility’s ability to manage grid operations is not compromised
¾ Utilities require the right to request that a CHP system be isolated from the
utility grid during periods of emergency or for grid safety.
5.4.1 Distribution Grid Configurations
The local electric utility distribution grid is the most common point of interconnection for
CHP in hospital applications. The distribution grid is typically a lower voltage system (< 69
kV) that ties the hospital to the larger, higher voltage transmission system. The tie in between
the transmission and distribution grids occurs at the utility substations. There are nominally
two types of distribution systems applicable to CHP systems:
5.4.1.1 Radial Systems:

¾ This is the most common type of distribution grid system
¾ The radial system has a single path for power flow to all customers on a
single radial line / feed. The system is made up of multiple radial lines.
¾ If a fault occurs in a radial feed, only the customers on that feed are affected.
By using sectionalizing switches, the utility can often isolate the fault and keep
some portion of the radial feed operating during repairs.
¾ The radial system is the easiest and least costly to interconnect a CHP system.
Most utilities prefer CHP systems be installed on radial distribution systems
¾ Interconnection must assure that the CHP system will not feed power onto a
de-energized grid.
5.4.1.2 Looped and Network Systems:

¾ These systems provide multiple paths for power flow to all customers on
the system. If a fault occurs on these type of systems, the utility has the ability
to keep more customers on-line while isolating and repairing the fault (due to
multiple paths for power flow).
¾ The network systems are the most complex and are mainly found in large
metropolitan areas.
¾ Utilities are more concerned about CHP systems interconnected to network
systems due to the complexity of the grid.
¾ It is more costly and difficult to interconnect to the looped / network grids.
Many utilities will prohibit interconnection to such grids. However, successful
and safe interconnection to network grids can be done. Examples exist in
New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Boston, just to mention a few.

¾ Interconnection must assure that the CHP system will not feed power onto a
de-energized grid.
5.4.2 Parallel Operation with the Utility Grid
Parallel operation is the preferred way of interconnecting and operating with the grid
(provides the most flexibility). Both the on-site generator and the utility grid power the facility
simultaneously. The CHP system can operate in either the Export or Non- Export mode.
5.4.2.1 Export Mode

¾ Provides the flexibility to purchase supplemental power from or sell excess
power to the grid
¾ Most complex and costly to interconnect. Must assure the CHP system will
not feed power onto a de-energized grid either by:
- Utilizing induction generator (CHP shuts down when grid shuts
down)
- Circuitry to shut down the CHP system when it senses the grid
shuts down
- Circuitry to ensure transfer of CHP system off the grid and onto
disconnected loads (now running independent of the grid – requires
black start capability, synchronous generator, or inverter based
micro-turbine).
¾ Flexibility in CHP system sizing (produce more electricity than required by
the site, sell to the grid – produce less electricity than required by the site,
purchase from the utility)
¾ Full advantage of the increased reliability of the electric system will not be
captured since the CHP system is likely to stop generating and supplying
power to the load if the grid is de-energized (blackouts and brownouts)
5.4.2.2 Non-Export Mode

¾ CHP system configured with reverse current relays that prohibit the CHP
system from exporting power to the grid at any time (whether the grid is
operating or de-energized).
¾ CHP and grid still simultaneously feed the loads. CHP system sized to
always feed the building load, and the grid provides whatever power is
beyond the capacity of the CHP system
¾ Requires the CHP system to operate in the electric load following mode or to
size the system to never produce more than the required electric load.
¾ Should the CHP system generate more power than the load requires, the
CHP system will be automatically shut down
¾ Should the grid be de-energized, the CHP system can continue to supply
power to the load (uninterrupted and paralleled to the grid) providing the
capacity of the CHP system is capable of handling the entire load and the
CHP system includes a synchronous generator.

¾ Should the CHP system capacity not be large enough to handle the entire
load when the grid goes “down”, loads can be shed fast enough to allow the
CHP system to continue powering critical loads.
¾ Overall system reliability is increased in that:
- CHP system backs up the grid (should the grid go down)
- Grid backs up the CHP system (should the CHP system go
down)
¾ An ongoing concern and debate is the fact that some utilities refuse to
acknowledge the Non-Export mode of operation (reverse current relays)
and still require expensive circuitry when utilizing synchronous generators
and paralleling to the grid
5.4.3 Black Start Capability

Should the grid be de-energized and the CHP system also fails, the CHP system can be
restarted without the grid if it has black start capability. The engines can be started with the
use of a battery (similar to starting your car engines). Once up to speed, you must connect
the system through a “generator breaker” to a load that allows you to supply power to the
CHP parasitic loads (if you do not do this, the engines will overheat and shut down). The
second step is to then engage the “tie breaker” that places the full load on the CHP system.
To operate in this mode, the CHP system must be producing the electric power with a
synchronous generator or inverter system.

SECTION 6: FEASIBILITY EVALUATION
Implementing a CHP system requires significant time, effort, and investment. With
approximately 175 hospitals in the U.S. presently utilizing CHP systems with a generating
capacity of over 686 MW of electricity on-site and recycling millions of Btus/hr of thermal
energy for use within the hospital, the CHP concept is certainly one that has been proven to
be technically and financially sound.
However, we have stated that CHP is not right for every hospital application in every sector
of the country. There are many variables that must be considered when evaluating an
investment that could easily reach several millions of dollars. These variables include capital
costs, operating and maintenance costs, utility (electric and gas) rates, interconnection costs,
environmental standards, energy load requirements corrected for local weather conditions,
and regulatory requirements, just to mention a few.
Therefore, it is prudent to evaluate the technical and financial feasibility of a CHP system
at your facility using a four step evaluation process:
• Level 1: Preliminary Analysis

• Level 2: Site Screening Analysis
• Level 3: Conceptual Design and Financial Analysis
• Level 4: Detailed Design and Engineering Analysis
6.1 Collect Site Data

• The first step in determining the feasibility of CHP at your hospital is to collect the
appropriate data that can be utilized to conduct any level analysis.
• Minimum site data collection recommended includes
¾ 12 months of electric and fuel bills (preferably the last full year of bills)
¾ The operating hours of the facility
¾ Existing & planned heating and cooling requirements (both space and
process)
¾ Number of electric feeds and meters to the facility
Appendix B provides a detailed Site Data Collection Sheet that can be

utilized when visiting and collecting data for a potential CHP site.
Collecting as much of the information requested in the data sheet will
minimize the need for additional site visits and allow more detailed
analyses to be performed. An electronic version of the Site Data
Collection Sheet is available at:
www.CHPCenterMW.org/html/10_library.html#tools

6.2 Level 1: Preliminary Analysis
Provides for quick application of a few “rules-of-thumb” to provide a preliminary indication of

whether CHP might make sense at your facility and to help make the decision to further
investigate its viability through more detailed Level analyses. The approach can vary from a
simple survey (a method developed by the US EPA) to a very quick estimate of the “spark
spread” (differential between the cost of electricity from the grid and the cost of the CHP fuel).
• US EPA CHP Partnership Program Survey: The following is a simple survey (set of
12 questions). It is designed to provide a very simple indication whether pursuing
more accurate evaluations is justified.
Is My Facility a Good Candidate for CHP?

(Survey developed by the U.S. EPA CHP Partnership)
STEP 1
Please check the boxes that apply to you:
Do you pay more than $.06/ kWh on average for electricity (including generation, transmission and
distribution)?
Are you concerned about the impact of current or future energy costs on your business?
Is your facility located in a deregulated electricity market?
Are you concerned about power reliability? Is there a substantial financial impact to your business if the
power goes out for 1 hour? For 5 minutes?
Does your facility operate for more than 5000 hours/ year?
Do you have thermal loads throughout the year (including steam, hot water, chilled water, hot air, etc.)?
Does your facility have an existing central plant?
Do you expect to replace, upgrade or retrofit central plant equipment within the next 3-5 years?
Do you anticipate a facility expansion or new construction project within the next 3-5 years?
Have you already implemented energy efficiency measures and still have high energy costs?
Are you interested in reducing your facility's impact on the environment?
Do you have access to on-site or nearby biomass resources (i.e. landfill gas, farm manure, food
processing waste, etc.?

STEP 2
If you have checked the boxes for 3 or more of the questions above, your facility may
be a good candidate for CHP.
The next step in assessing the potential of an investment in CHP is to have a Level 2 Site
Screening Analysis or Level 3 Conceptual Design and Financial Analysis performed to
estimate the preliminary return on investment. The U.S. DOE sponsored CHP Regional
Application Centers or the US EPA CHP Partnership Program can be contacted for Level
2 or Level 3 analysis assistance.
Appendix C provides a listing of the 8 CHP Regional Application Centers and points of
contact
• Spark Spread Approach: A second approach to determining a quick indication of

the viability of CHP is to estimate the “Spark Spread” per table 2.2 located in section
2.6.2 of this guidebook. If the estimated spark spread is approximately $12/MMBtu or
greater (either for on-peak electric periods or for both on-peak and off-peak
periods) , you might want to proceed with a Level 2 or Level 3 analysis
6.3 Level 2 Site Screening Analysis
• This level analysis is normally based on annual or monthly average utility costs,
makes several assumptions on load profiles and equipment size, has no correction
for weather conditions, but does provide an estimate of savings, installation cost, and
simple payback. The accuracy of the stated results of a Level 1 feasibility analysis
might be in the 30% range, but is intended to simply provide another more detailed
indication as to whether further analysis should be undertaken.
• Appendix D provides a sample Level 2 analysis approach referred to as the CHP

Tool Kit. It is only one of several available Level 2 Site Screening Analysis tools. The
following steps are utilized in the tool kit:
¾ Calculate the true cost of electricity purchased from the grid
¾ Estimate the cost of generating electricity with the CHP system providing
credit for the amount of recycled energy utilized
¾ Estimate the savings (if any)
¾ Estimate the capital cost of the CHP equipment
¾ Perform the economic calculation (simple payback)

6.4 Level 3 Conceptual Design and Financial Analysis
• The purpose of this level analysis is to determine if CHP is a viable option, both
financially and technically at your facility
• A Level 3 analysis uses a detailed engineering and financial model. It is highly

recommended that the model use hourly load profiles (at a minimum monthly profiles).
If hourly load data are not available from the site, the load profiles can be developed
by the computer program.
• Equipment sizing and conceptual one-line design diagrams are included in a Level 3
analysis
• A Level 3 analysis should be conducted by a qualified CHP analyst. When requesting

such an evaluation, the hospital facility manager should inquire of the evaluator
(consultant, engineering company, manufacturer, or university):
¾ Experience level of performing CHP evaluations
¾ References from other clients on their analysis techniques and performance
¾ A detailed understanding of the type model and/or spread sheet analysis
utilized (type load profiles, weather correction factors, assumptions on
equipment costs, assumptions on interconnect, permitting, and operational &
maintenance costs (to mention a few).
• Although a Level 3 analysis does not substitute for detailed design and engineering, it
can & should be utilized to obtain financial commitment for capital funds to initiate the
first stages of the project.
• The following is a non-inclusive list of software tools available for conducting a

detailed economic evaluation of CHP systems:
Table 6-1 CHP Software Evaluation Tools4

Software Cost URL Primary Use
http://www.ornl.gov/sci/engineering_science_tech
BCHP
FREE nology/cooling_heating_power/success_analysis_ Commercial Buildings
Screening Tool
BCHP.htm
Building Energy http://www.interenergysoftware.com/BEA/BEAAb Commercial Applications
$780
Analyzer out.htm (some Industrial)
Cogen Ready http://www.eere.energy.gov/de/chp/chp_applicatio
FREE Industrial Applications
Reckoner ns/feasibility_analysis.html
http://www.interenergysoftware.com/DGP/DGPAb CHP Heating Applications
D-Gen Pro $675
out.htm in Commercial Buildings
Industrial Gas Turbine
GT Pro $7,000 www.thermoflow.com
Applications
http://www.energy.wsu.edu/ftp- CHP and District Heating
Heatmap CHP $4,000
ep/software/heatmap/Heatmap_CHP_5_flyer.pdf and Cooling Applications
Plant Design Industrial Applications
$3,000 www.thermoflow.com
Expert (PDE) using Gas Turbines
Small Commercial /
RECIPRO $1,500 www.thermoflow.com
Industrial
Industrial Gas Turbine
SOAPP-CT .25 $7,500 http://www.soapp.com/soapp/dg/
Applications
4
Hudson, Randy. “Survey of DER/CHP Survey.” Midwest CHP Application Center. PowerPoint (February
2003). 16 November 2007.
<http://www.chpcentermw.org/pdfs/20040206_ORNL_der_chp_software_survey_HudsonR.pdf>.

For more detail on the software packages identified in Table 6-1, visit the Midwest
CHP Application Website Center: www.chpcentermw.org/10-00_tools.html
6.5 Level 4 Detailed Design and Engineering Analysis

• The purpose of this level analysis is to develop and design the material necessary to
build or request bids on building the CHP system. The analysis would include:
¾ Detailed engineering design and installation / construction drawings
¾ Procurement specifications
¾ Detailed cost estimates
¾ Project implementation requirements

SECTION 7: HOSPITAL ENERGY LOADS
Hospitals are energy intensive facilities with long operating hours.

Hospitals in the U.S. spend on average, approximately $1.67 per
square foot on electricity and approximately 48 cents per square foot
on natural gas annually.5
In this section,5 we took one of the Level 3 simulation tools (Building Load Analyzer) and
generated energy load data for a 240,000 square foot full service hospital (average size U.S.
hospital6). The information is shown for the same hospital located in four different major
regions of the country with different climate conditions (Chicago, New York, Miami, and Los
Angeles). The intent of providing this data is to allow the reader to better understand where
and how energy is utilized in hospitals.
This information is not intended to substitute for your specific facility’s

energy data. It is important that any CHP and/or energy analysis for
your facility be based on the energy characteristics and data obtained
from your facility. See Appendix B for a Site Walkthrough Data
Collection guide when collecting data at your facility
5
“Managing Energy Costs in the Hospital/Healthcare Sector Managing Energy Costs in the Hospital/Healthcare
Sectors.” Florida Power and Light Company. 12 November 2007.
<http://www.fpl.com/business/savings/energy_advisor/PDF/CEA_Hospitals.pdf>
6
“Table B1. Summary Table: Total and Means of Floorspace, Number of Workers, and Hours of Operation for
Non-Mall Buildings, 2003.” Energy Information Administration – Official Energy Statistics from the U.S.
Government. 14 November 2007.
<http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cbecs/cbecs2003/detailed_tables_2003/2003set1/2003html/b1.html>

New York Hospital
Chicago Hospital
Space Heating Space Heating

0% Heat Rejection
0% Heat Rejection
2%
2% Fans & Ventilation
Fans & Ventilation
14% 13%
Pumps & Misc. Pumps & Misc.

4% 4%
Lights
Lights
41%
40%
Space Cooling Space Cooling

21% 22%
Misc. Equipment Misc. Equipment

19% 18%
Miami Hospital Los Angeles Hospital
Space Heating Space Heating

0% Heat Rejection 0% Heat Rejection
2% Fans & Ventilation 1%
Fans & Ventilation 12%
10%
Pumps & Misc. Lights Pumps & Misc.
3% 30% 3%
Lights
40%
Space Cooling
26%
Space Cooling Misc. Equipment

41% 14%
Misc. Equipment
18%
Figure 7-1 Electric Energy Distribution in Hospitals

(Chicago, New York, Miami, Los Angeles)
Chicago Hospital
New York Hospital
Misc. Domestic.
25% Misc. Domestic.
26%
Space Heating
Space Heating 43%
44%
Domestic Hot Water

31% Domestic Hot Water
31%
Miami Hospital Los Angeles Hospital
Space Heating
Space Heating 18%
25%
Misc. Domestic. Misc. Domestic.

40% 40%
Domestic Hot Wate

Domestic Hot Water 42%
35%
Figure 7-2 Natural Gas Distribution in Hospitals

(Chicago, New York, Miami, Los Angeles)
In order to better manage a hospital’s energy costs, it helps to understand how a hospital is
charged for those costs. Most utilities charge for the natural gas based on the amount of
energy (therms) delivered to the facility. Electricity, however can be charged on two
measures: consumption (kWh) and demand (kW). The consumption portion of the bill is
based on the amount of electricity (kWh) consumed. The demand portion is the peak
demand (kW) occurring within the month or for some utilities, during the previous 12 months.
Demand charges can range from a few dollars per kilowatt-month to upwards of $20 per
kilowatt-month. In evaluating your facility, it is important to understand:
• How energy is utilized in your facility (above charts)
• The energy consumption within the facility (seasonal and peak demands)
• How you are being billed by the utilities (gas and electric)
Monthly Electric Consumption

900,000
800,000
700,000
ElectricConsumption(kWh)
600,000
500,000
400,000
300,000
200,000
100,000
0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Chicago New York Miami Los Angeles
Figure 7-3 Monthly Electric Consumption – 240,000 SF Hospital
Monthly Maximum Electric Demand

1600
1400
1200
ElectricDemand(kW)
1000
800
600
400
200
0
Figure 7-4 Monthly Maximum Electric Demand – 240,000 SF Hospital
Monthly Natural Gas Consumption

5,000
4,500
Natural GasConsumption(MMBtu)
4,000
3,500
3,000
2,500
2,000
1,500
1,000
500
0
Figure 7-5 Monthly Natural Gas Consumption – 240,000 SF Hospital

SECTION 8: HOSPITAL CHP INSTALLATIONS
The database utilized to identify hospitals in the U.S. that have active CHP systems is the
U.S. DOE CHP database located at http://www.eea-inc.com/chpdata/index.html. It is difficult
to account for all hospitals with CHP, since the data base provides separate data categories
for colleges/universities and hospitals. The data does not distinguish which of the universities
with CHP have teaching hospitals included on their campus and are therefore serviced by
the University CHP system.
The purpose of this section is to inform you that CHP installations in the healthcare industry
are not a new and novel idea. Utilizing the U.S. DOE CHP database, one can see that:
• 175 hospitals have stand alone CHP systems with a generating capacity of 686
MW. The average system size is 3,924 kW and the median is 1,050 kW. These
systems are located in 30 states.
• 213 colleges and universities have CHP systems installed with a total generating
capacity of 2,612 MW. At least several dozen of these campuses include hospitals
serviced by the CHP system. These systems are located in 41 states. The
average system size is 12,264 kW and the median system size is 3,100 kW.
The University of Illinois at Chicago’s West Campus operates a 21.0 MW natural

gas-fired combustion turbine CHP system that supplies electricity and high
pressure steam to the university’s hospital and outpatient buildings, School of
Nursing, School of Dentistry, and School of Pharmacy. The CHP plant also
supplies high pressure steam to the neighboring Rush Presbyterian Hospital and
Cook County Hospital. More information is available at:
http://public.ornl.gov/mac/pdfs/factsheets/UIC%20West%20Campus%20-
%20Project%20Profile.pdf
• Finally, nursing homes are another segment of the healthcare industry that are
good applications for CHP systems. The database shows that 114 nursing homes,
located within 11 states, include CHP systems with a total capacity of 22.4 MW.
The average system size is 197 kW and the median system size is 75 kW.
Presbyterian Homes, a nursing home located in Evanston, Illinois, lost power for
nine hours during an ice storm in the winter of 1998. Both of the facility’s electric
utility feeds were knocked out and over 600 senior residents were without
electricity. This event coupled with the premise of avoiding such future outages
prompted Presbyterian Homes to install a 2.1 MW natural-gas fired CHP system
in January, 2001. More information is available at:
http://public.ornl.gov/mac/pdfs/factsheets/Presbyterian%20Homes%20-
%20Project%20Profile.pdf

In 2004, the Sisters of Notre Dame installed two 75 kW CHP systems at their
Notre Dame Long Term Care & Assisted Living Centers facilities, located in
Worcester, Massachusetts. The two CHP systems were installed at $125,000 a
piece and experienced simple paybacks within 3 years. More information is
available at:
http://www.chpcentermw.org/rac_profiles/Northeast/NotreDameLongTermCareC
HPprofile.pdf
Appendix E provides a list of the installed CHP systems located in hospitals by prime mover
type, fuel type, size of system, and year of installation. The figures below provide a
snapshot of the types of CHP installations that are installed in U.S. hospitals. Clearly,
natural-gas fired reciprocating engine CHP systems are the preferred fuel and prime mover
among hospitals.
Number of CHP Installations Installed CHP Capacity - Megawatts
Fuel Cell, 5 sites, 3%

Recip. Engine Fuel Cell, 1 MW, <1%
Microturbine, 3, 2% 141 MW, 21% Microturbine, 1 MW,
Other, 1 site, 1% <1%
Other, 5 MW, 1%
Boiler / Steam Turbine Combustion Turbine
17 sites, 10% 120 MW, 17%
Combined Cycle
9 sites, 5%
Reciprocating
Engine
110 sites, 62% Boiler / Steam Turbine
202 MW, 29%
Combustion Turbine
30 sites, 17%
Combined Cycle
218 MW, 32%
Hospitals by Prime Mover Type
Number of CHP Installations

Installed CHP Capacity - Megawatts
Oil, 21 MW, 3%
Oil
14 sites, 8% Waste, 55 MW, 8%
Wood, 2 MW, 0%
Waste, 1 site, 1% Other, 0 MW, 0%

Natural Gas
154 sites, 88% Wood, 2 sites, 1% Coal, 10 MW, 1%
Other, 2 sites, 1% Natural Gas
598 MW, 88%
Coal, 2 sites, 1%
Hospitals by Fuel Type

APPENDICES

Appendix A: CHP Resource Guide Reference

Appendix B: Site Walkthrough Data Collection
Questions for the Facility Operator

RESPONSE
Obtain 12 Months of Electric Bills
Do Bills Contain Monthly Demand Values?
Bills Contains On-Peak and Off-Peak Consumption?
Name of Rate Schedule(s) Used
Obtain 12 Months of Gas Bills

Do Bills Contain Energy Usage?
Is Gas Purchased Under Contract?
Name of Rate Schedule(s) Used
Obtain 12 Months of Fuel Oil Bills (If Used) Gallons

Do Bills Contain Amount Used Liters
Type of Fuel Oil Used No. 2

No. 6
NO
Industrial Loads - Ask for Information on Operating Schedules
Number of Hours of Operation on Weekdays? Hrs./Day
Number of Hours of Operation on Weekends? Hrs./Day
Schedule of Major Process Heat Loads? Hrs./Day
Does the Plant Have a Steam System?

Operating Pressure psig
Commercial Loads - Ask for Information on Operating Schedules

Hours Facility is Open for Business or Largely Occupied? Hrs./Day
Type of Heating System(s)?

Indicate All Types
Type of Cooling System(s)?

Electric Parameters
Certain Issues with the Current Electric Power Service Can Impact CHP Economics. These Questions Investigate Power
Service Issues.
How Many Electric Services Drops Are There to the Facility?
How Many Electric Meters Serve the Facility?
Estimate the Distance Between the Multiple Meters in Your Facility Feet
Do All of Your Service Drops Originate at the Same Utility Feeder?
Has the Facility Experienced Problems with Power Quality Such as:
Low Voltage? If Yes, Please Describe:
Poor Frequency Quality? If Yes, Please Describe:
Does the Facility Have Any Significant Need for UPS Systems? If Yes, Please Describe:
Estimate the Number of Momentary Electric Power Outages

Momentary Power Drops are Power Fluctuations that Cause Computer Equipment to Reset a Full Blackout
Estimated Cost of a Momentary Power Outage
Estimate the Number of Non-momentary or Complete Electric Power Occurances

Outages per year
Estimate Cost of a Non-MomentaryPower Outage per Hour
Does the Facility Have Back-Up Generation?

Yes
What is the Size of the Back-Up Generators kWe No
Are the Back-Up Generators Diesel Fuel?
How Old are the Back-Up Generators Years
(This Question Can Generally be Skipped for Commercial Buildings)

What is the Facilities Current Power Factor

Overall Location and Equipment Questions
Overall Location Questions: It is Important to Find a Location for the CHP System That Allows the System to be Affordably
Connected to the Electric and Thermal Loads.
If CHP is Installed - Where Can it Be Located?
How Close are the Existing Electric Feeders to This Location? Feet
Does a Single Electric Distribution System Exist that Can be Used?

(Question Important for Multi-Building Campuses)
Does a Hot Water or Steam Piping System Exist that Could be Used?
How Close is the Existing Heating Plant? Feet
Existing Equipment: A CHP system will need to tie into existing heating and cooling systems.
The current state of these systems will affect the savings and the first cost
What is the Approximate Efficiency of the Existing Heating System? %
How Old is the Current Heating System? Years
How is Heat Distributed to the Building? Steam, Hot Water, or Hot Air
If Steam, What Operating Pressure? If Water, At What Delivery Temp?
What Sizes are the Existing Heating Equipment? Type Capacity Units
Please Mark Type of Heating System: No. 1 GHA
GSB = Gas Fired Steam Boiler GHW = Gas Hot Water Boiler No. 2 GB
OSB = Oil Fired Steam Boiler OHW = Oil Hot Water Boiler No. 3 GHW
ESB = Electric Steam Boiler EHW = Electric Hot Water Boiler No. 4 OHA
OHW = Oil Hot Water Boiler O = Other (Please Describe) No. 5 OB
ERT = Rooftop Units-Electric Heat GRT = Rooftop Units-Gas Heat OHW
Estimate the Maximum Cooling Load? Tons O

Yes
Does the Facility Have a Chilled Water Distribution System? No
How Long is the Distance to the Existing Chiller Room? Feet
How Old are the Existing Chillers Years
What Sizes and Type are the Existing Chillers? No. 1 Tons E
Please Indicate the Type of Chillers: No. 2 Tons AS
AS = Absorption (Steam Fired), AD = Absorption (Direct Fired) No. 3 Tons
AH = Absorption (Hot Water Fired), E = Electric Chillers No. 4 Tons
ED = Engine Driven, SD = Steam Turbine Driven, O = Other No. 5 Tons
Are There Concerns about Noise at the Selected System Location? If Yes, Please Describe
Are There Concerns about Vibration at the Selected System Location? If Yes, Please Describe

Other Questions
Questions to Consider that Facility Operators May Be Able to Help With
Would the Facility be Able to Obtain Gas at a Lower Rate if the Gas
Yes
Consumption of the Facility Were Larger?
No
What are the Electric Utility Stand-By Charges in This Area? $/kW/Mo
Is the Facility Eligible for any State/Federal/Utility Rebate Programs?
Is the Facility Owned by a For-Profit Company?

If Yes, What is Their Marginal Corporate Tax Rate?
Would the Facility be Interested in Leasing a CHP Plant? Please Explain:
Would the Facility be Interested in Having a Third Party Own the CHP Plant
Please Explain:
and Sell Them Power/Heating/Cooling?

Appendix C: List of RACs with Contact Information
Regional Application Centers
Midwest Northeast
Northwest Region www.northeastchp.org
www.chpcentermw.org
www.chpcenternw.org
Pacific Mid Atlantic

www.chpcenterpr.org www.chpcenterma.org
Intermountain Southeastern
www.IntermountainCHP.org www.chpcenterse.org
Gulf Coast
www.GulfCoastCHP.org
Midwest: John Cuttica Northeast: Tom Bourgeois

312/996-4382 914/422-4227
[email protected] [email protected]
Mid Atlantic: Joe Orlando Southeast: Louay Chamra

301/405-4681 662/325-0618
Gulf Coast: Dan Bullock Intermountain: Patti Case

281/364-6087 801/278-1927
Northwest: David Sjoding Pacific: Tim Lipman

360/956-2004 510/642-4501

Appendix D: CHP Tool Kit

Appendix E: Summary of CHP Systems in U.S. Hospitals (by state)
Prime Capacity Fuel

Facility Name State City OpYear
Mover (kW) Class
1 Sparks Regional Medical Center AR Fort Smith 1986 ERENG 8,500 NG
2 Tucson Medical Center Heating & Cooling AZ Tucson 1989 CT 750 NG
3 Kingman Regional Hosptial AZ Kingman 1986 ERENG 915 NG
4 Thunderbird Samaritan Hospital AZ Glendale ERENG 630 NG
5 Grossmont Hospital District CA La Mesa 1985 CT 2,400 NG
6 San Antonio Community Hospital CA Ontario 1985 ERENG 2,700 NG
7 Agnews State Hospital CA San Jose 1990 CC 30,300 NG
8 Balboa Naval Hospital CA San Diego 1986 CT 4,600 NG
9 St. John's Hospital And Health Center CA Santa Monica 1990 CT 1,000 NG
Camarillo State Hospital / CA State Univ.
10 CA Camarillo 1988 CC 27,000 NG
Channel Islands
11 Victor Valley Hospital CA Victorville 1985 ERENG 130 NG
12 St. John Of God Hospital CA Los Angeles 1991 CT 120 NG
13 St. Luke Hospital CA Pasadena 1984 ERENG 1,000 NG
14 Veterans Administration Medical Center CA La Jolla 1989 CT 5,380 NG
15 Santa Barbara County Hospital CA Santa Barbara 1990 ERENG 350 NG
16 Anaheim Memorial Hospital CA Anaheim 1990 ERENG 350 NG
17 Pomerado Hospital CA Poway 1988 ERENG 350 NG
18 Mission Bay Hospital CA San Diego 1990 ERENG 240 NG
19 Burbank Community Hospital CA Burbank 1989 ERENG 50 NG
20 Delano Regional Medical Center CA Delano 1987 ERENG 99 NG
21 Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital CA Whittier 1990 CT 575 NG
22 Brookside Hospital CA San Pablo 1987 ERENG 800 NG
23 Selma District Hospital CA Selma 1987 ERENG 60 NG
24 Sacred Heart Hospital CA Hanford 1989 ERENG 75 NG
25 Redlands Community Hospital CA Redlands 1990 CT 1,000 NG
26 St. Joseph Medical Center CA Stockton 1990 ERENG 600 NG
27 Kaiser Permanente Hospital - Riverside CA Riverside 1994 FCEL 400 NG
28 Kaiser Permanente Hospital - Anaheim CA Anaheim 1993 FCEL 200 NG
29 Cogeneration Facility CA Pomona 1987 ERENG 800 NG
30 Thompson Memorial Medical Center CA Burbank 1993 ERENG 60 NG
31 Kaiser Foundation Health Plan CA Pasadena 1997 ERENG 400 NG
32 Loma Linda University Hospital CA Loma Linda 1989 CC 13,000 NG
33 Napa Hospital CA Imola 1984 CT 1,600 NG
34 Kaweah Delta District Hospital CA Visalia 1984 ERENG 1,700 NG
35 Olive View Medical Center CA Sylmar 1987 CC 5,780 NG
36 Palomar Medical Center CA Escondido 1986 ERENG 1,200 NG
37 Saint Agnes Medical Center CA Fresno 1983 CT 7,000 NG
38 Commerce Veterans Center CA Commerce B/ST 32,890 NG
39 Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital CA Valencia 1987 ERENG 450 NG
40 Chino Valley Medical Center CA Chino 2003 ERENG 780 NG
41 Eisenhower Medical Center CA Rancho Mirage 2002 ERENG 5,000 NG
42 Motion Picture and Television Hospital CA Woodland Hills 2005 ERENG 450 NG
43 Hoag Hospital CA Newport Beach 2005 ERENG 4,500 NG
44 Desert Valley Hospital CA Victorville 2005 ERENG 650 NG
45 Hospital CA Fremont 2007 ERENG 150 NG
46 Metropolitan State Hospital Norwalk CA Norwalk 1988 CC 30,700 NG
47 Childrens Hospital And Health Center CA San Diego 1983 CT 6,100 NG
48 Pleasant Valley Convalescent Hospital CA Oxnard 1988 ERENG 60 NG
49 Ojai Convalescent Hospital Project CA Ojai 1988 ERENG 60 NG
50 Hartford Hospital CT Hartford 1988 CC 12,200 NG
51 Norwalk Hospital CT Norwalk 1992 CT 2,400 NG
52 Norwich State Hospital CT Norwich 1965 B/ST 2,000 OIL
53 Connecticut Valley Hospital CT Middletown 1970 B/ST 2,100 OIL
54 Winthrop Health Care Center CT New Haven 1987 ERENG 75 NG
55 Vernon Manor Health Care Facility LLC CT Vernon 1997 ERENG 60 NG
56 Cromwell Crest CT Cromwell 1997 ERENG 75 NG
57 St. Francis Hospital CT Hartford 2003 FCEL 200 NG
58 St. Vincents Hospital FL Jacksonville 1990 CT 1,200 NG
59 St. Joseph's Hospital FL Tampa 1993 ERENG 1,500 NG
60 Baptist Hospital FL Jacksonville 1972 CT 13,100 NG
61 West Dade Facility FL Miami 1990 ERENG 810 OIL

62 Health Care Center FL Miami 1994 CT 1,500 NG
63 Florida State Hospital FL Chattahoochee 1995 B/ST 6,500 OIL
64 Kona Community Hospital HI Kona 2003 ERENG 455 OIL
65 Hilo Medical Center HI Hilo 2003 ERENG 730 OIL
66 Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital HI Kauai 2004 ERENG 275 OIL
67 Iowa Methodist Medical Center IA Des Moines 1987 ERENG 3,500 NG
68 Delaware County Memorial Hospital IA Manchester 1985 ERENG 120 NG
69 Mercy Health Center - St Mary'S Unit IA Dyersville 1987 ERENG 60 NG
70 Mercy Hospital IA Council Bluffs 1970 ERENG 1,840 NG
71 Little Company Of Mary Hospital IL Evergreen Park 1989 CT 3,700 NG
72 Condel Memorial Hospital IL Libertyville 1985 ERENG 500 NG
73 Hospital Power Plant IL Hinsdale 1996 ERENG 3,200 NG
74 South Suburban Hospital IL Hazel Crest 1986 ERENG 1,900 NG
75 Northwest Community Hospital IL Arlington Hts. 1996 ERENG 4,400 NG
76 Lake Forest Hospital IL Lake Forest 1996 ERENG 3,200 NG
77 IL Dept of Mental Health IL Kankakee 1996 ERENG 1,100 NG
78 Resurrection Hospital IL Chicago 1989 ERENG 1,450 NG
79 Gottlieb Memorial Hospital IL Melrose Park ERENG 1,600 NG
80 Northwestern University IL Evanston 1991 ERENG 800 NG
81 Christ Hospital IL Oak Lawn 2002 ERENG 2,000 NG
82 North Chicago Energy Center IL North Chicago 2003 CT 13,020 NG
83 St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital IL Chicago 1993 ERENG 2,400 NG
84 Westside VA Medical Center IL Chicago 2003 CT 4,000 NG
85 St. Anthony's Medical Center IN Crown Point 1990 CC 2,748 NG
86 Elkhart General Hospital IN Elkhart 1991 ERENG 745 NG
87 Medical Area Total Energy Plant MA Boston 1985 B/ST 62,800 NG
88 Jordan Hospital MA Plymouth 1994 ERENG 1,050 NG
89 Heywood Memorial Hospital MA Gardner 1995 ERENG 280 NG
90 Atlantic Adventist Healthcare MA Burlington 1969 B/ST 1,900 NG
91 Monson Healthcare MA Palmer 1991 B/ST 149 OIL
92 Eastern Maine Medical Center ME Bangor 2005 CT 4,400 NG
93 Oakwood Hospital MI Dearborn 1989 ERENG 1,350 NG
94 Buttercourt Hospital MI Grand Rapids 1999 CT 4,345 NG
95 Hutzel Hospital MI Detroit 1988 CT 1,600 NG
96 William Beaumont Hospital MI Royal Oak 1992 ERENG 3,800 OIL
97 Botsford Kidney Center MI Livonia 2000 ERENG 75 NG
98 Mayo Clinic MN Rochester 1999 CT 5,200 NG
99 Fairview Ridges Hospital MN Burnsville 1989 ERENG 150 NG
100 Franklin Heating Station MN Rochester 1951 B/ST 11,300 NG
101 Saint Marys Hospital Power Plant MN Rochester 1971 CC 12,900 NG
102 Missouri State Hospital MO St. Louis 1977 Z-NA 5,000 COAL
103 Baptist Medical Center MS Jackson 1991 CT 4,200 NG
104 Albemarle Hospital NC Elizabeth City 1996 ERENG 1,825 OIL
105 New Hampshire Hospital Plant NH Concord 1985 B/ST 2,000 WOOD
106 Cheshire Medical Center NH Keene 1988 ERENG 840 OIL
107 Crotched Mt Rehab Center NH Greenfield 1990 ERENG 1,400 OIL
108 St. Joseph's Cogen Project NJ Patterson 1997 ERENG 2,200 NG
109 East Orange General Hospital NJ East Orange 2003 MT 260 NG
110 Edison Estates Convalescent Center NJ Edison 1985 ERENG 60 NG
111 Betty Bacharach Rehabilitation Hospital NJ Pomona 1990 ERENG 150 NG
112 Cranford Health & Extended Care Facility NJ Cranford 1994 ERENG 72 NG
113 Lovelace Medical Center NM Albuquerque 1987 ERENG 1,150 NG
114 St. Vincent Hospital NM Santa Fe 2003 MT 60 NG
115 VAMC Las Vegas NV Las Vegas 1999 CT 1,000 NG
116 South Oaks Hospital NY Amityville 1990 ERENG 1,200 NG
117 Methodist Hospital NY Brooklyn 1990 ERENG 3,760 NG
118 St. Mary's Hospital NY Brooklyn 1994 ERENG 1,200 NG
119 Lutheran Medical Center Hospital NY Brooklyn 1993 ERENG 1,600 NG
120 Newark-Wayne Hospital NY Newark 1995 ERENG 290 NG
121 Yonkers General Hospital NY Yonkers 1989 ERENG 500 OIL
122 Staten Island Hospital NY Staten Island 1988 ERENG 22 NG
123 Montefiore Medical Center NY Bronx 1994 CT 10,570 NG
124 Staten Island Univ Hospital South NY Staten Island 1992 ERENG 1,200 NG
125 Central General Hospital NY Plainview 1990 ERENG 150 NG
126 Massapequa General Hospital NY Seaford 1990 ERENG 120 NG
127 Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center NY Brooklyn 1991 ERENG 500 NG

128 Mercy Medical Center NY Rockville Center 1991 ERENG 1,340 NG
129 St. Charles Hospital NY Port Jefferson 1992 ERENG 670 NG
130 Southampton Hospital NY Southampton 1992 ERENG 500 NG
131 St. Lukes/Roosevelt Hospital Center NY New York 1993 B/ST 150 zOTR
132 Staten Island University Hospital / North Shore NY Staten Island 1997 ERENG 4,475 NG
133 Ellis Hospital Facility NY Schenectady 2001 ERENG 560 NG
134 Wyoming County Hospital NY Warsaw 2001 ERENG 560 NG
135 Gas Chiller CHP demo NY Geneva 2004 ERENG 400 NG
136 Cortland Memorial Hospital NY Cortland 2003 ERENG 3,075 NG
137 Bronx Center for Rehabilitation and Health Care NY Bronx 2001 ERENG 150 NG
138 Golden Gate Rehab Center NY Staten Island 2003 ERENG 150 NG
139 Iola Health Facility NY Rochester 2004 ERENG 2,700 NG
140 Genesee Memorial Hospital NY Batavia 2000 ERENG 300 NG
141 Lake Shore Hospital NY Silver Creek 2003 ERENG 400 NG
142 Clifton Springs Hospital NY Clifton Springs 1994 ERENG 600 NG
143 Jewish Home and Hospital NY Bronx 2005 ERENG 400 NG
144 Chemung County Health Center NY Elmira 2006 ERENG 300 NG
145 St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center NY Ogdensburg 1993 CC 83,000 NG
146 Deaconess Hospital OH Cleveland 1987 ERENG 665 NG
147 St. Charles Hospital OH Toledo 1999 ERENG 1,100 NG
148 Crozer-Chester Medical Center PA Chester 1988 ERENG 3,100 NG
149 Einstein Hospital PA Philadelphia 1992 ERENG 1,000 NG
150 York Hospital PA York 1986 ERENG 2,500 NG
Cambria
151 Ebensburg Center/State Hospital PA 1990 B/ST 55,000 WAST
Township
152 Holy Spirit Hospital PA Camp Hill 1987 CT 665 NG
153 Presbyterian Medical Center Of Oakmont PA Oakmont 1994 FCEL 200 NG
154 Children's Hospital PA Philadelphia 1996 ERENG 3,040 NG
155 Landmark Medical Center-Fogarty Unit RI North Smithfield 1987 ERENG 220 NG
156 RI State Hospital / Central Power Plant RI Cranston 1932 B/ST 9,000 NG
157 Rhode Island Hospital RI Providence 1974 B/ST 10,400 NG
158 Providence VA Medical Center RI Providence 2002 B/ST 52 OIL
159 Butler Hospital RI Providence 2005 MT 240 NG
160 South County Hospital RI Wakefield 2001 FCEL 200 NG
James H. Quillen VA Medical Center / East TN
161 TN Mountain Home 2001 ERENG 7,000 NG
State Univ.
162 Austin State Hospital TX Austin 1990 CT 2,200 NG
163 Lackland AFB Hospital TX San Antonio 1998 CT 10,400 NG
164 Vista Hills Medical Center TX El Paso 1986 ERENG 180 NG
165 Thomason Hospital Central Plant TX El Paso 1996 ERENG 2,400 NG
166 Providence Memorial Hospital TX El Paso 1987 ERENG 4,200 NG
167 Dell Childrens Hospital TX Austin 2006 CT 4,600 NG
168 Holy Cross Hospital UT Salt Lake City 1989 ERENG 460 NG
169 Primary Children's Medical Center UT Salt Lake City 1990 ERENG 1,800 NG
170 Bon Secours VA Portsmouth 2000 B/ST 100 zOTR
171 Johston-Willis Hospital Facility VA Richmond 1994 ERENG 3,000 NG
172 North Country Hospital VT Newport 2005 B/ST 274 WOOD
173 St. Mary's Hospital Medical Center WI Madison 1972 CT 900 NG
174 Milwaukee Regional Medical Center WI Milwaukee 1994 B/ST 5,000 COAL
175 Beloit Memorial Hospital WI Beloit 2000 ERENG 3,000 NG

Appendix F: Frequently Asked Questions (we may want to include additional questions
pertaining to hospitals)
What is combined heat and power, CHP?

Combined heat and power refers to recovering waste heat when electricity is generated
and using it to create high temperature hot water or steam. Steam or hot water can then
be used for space heating, producing domestic hot water, or powering dehumidifiers and
water chillers for air conditioning.
Why is there so much interest in CHP?

There are two different driving forces behind CHP. First, recent problems in electrical
transmission and distribution systems have heightened concerns about availability and
cost of electricity. These have led in turn to interest in distributed generation and
subsequently the use of waste heat from power generation. The Department of Energy
is interested in CHP because of .resource efficiency.. If coal or natural gas is burned at a
power plant to produce electricity, less than a third of the energy content of the fuel is
delivered to customers as useful power. The.resource efficiency. is less than 33%. If a
CHP plant captures 68% of the energy in the exhaust gas and for space heating or hot
water, the resource efficiency becomes 78% (33% + (68% x 67%)). Therefore, much
more of the fuel energy content is used, and fossil fuel consumption and CO2 emissions
are reduced.
Is CHP the same as cogeneration?

Yes. CHP and cogeneration are basically the same thing. Cogeneration has been
generally identified with district heating and large utility owned power plants or industrial
power production and plant operation, while CHP is generally associated with a smaller
scale, privately owned operation. It frequently refers to generation of heat and power for
university campuses, military bases, hospitals, and hotels. New technologies for small-
scale power production are opening opportunities for CHP in medium and small sized
buildings.
What is the difference between CHP, CCHP, BCHP, DER, IES?

Many new terms and acronyms are being commonly used that mean basically the same
thing: generation of electricity at or near a customer.s facility so that waste heat from
electric generation equipment can be recovered and used. The terms differ as to where
the emphasis is placed. CCHP stresses that combined cooling, heating, and power
production occur, whereas combined heating and power in CHP may or may not use the
recovered heat for cooling purposes. BCHP is just CHP applied to a building as opposed
to a district heating system or industrial process. DER is distributed energy resources:
the use of small generating facilities close to consumers, either with or without heat
recovery. IES is an integrated energy system that recovers waste heat from on-site or
near-site power generation to provide hot water, steam, heating, cooling, or
dehumidification of air for buildings.
Why can't I use my backup generator for on-site power production?

Generator durability and fuel deliverability/storage are the reasons. The primary problem
with using backup generators for on site power generation concerns their emissions,
NOx and SOx, although noise and durability can also be problems. Most urban areas
limit the maximum number of hours that IC engine driven backup generators can be
operated each year because of their NOx and SOx emission levels. Generators for CHP

systems can operate upwards of 8000 hours per year, which greatly exceeds most
backup generators usage capability, which is typically limited to less than 200 hours per
year. Some models may be able to handle such high usage, others may not. In addition,
diesel-powered generators will require a lot of fuel storage at site.
Backup generators have been around for decades, what is new about on-site
power generation?
Recent developments have pushed to make on-site power generation cleaner, cheaper,
and quieter. Backup generators typically use diesel-fired internal combustion engines
with a multitude of moving parts and relatively high emissions of pollutants NOx and
SOx. Advanced recip engines have been developed that use natural gas and reduce
emissions. Microturbines have been developed which have very low emissions of
pollutants and extremely few moving parts making them attractive from an environmental
and maintenance point of view. Gas turbines are also being marketed in smaller
capacities so that they have appeal beyond large utilities and factories. Fuel cells
continue to be developed with a promise of higher efficiencies and lower emissions than
any other source of electricity and heat. Finally, strides are being made to reduce
emissions from IC engine driven generators to reduce their environmental impact.
What types of power generators can I buy?

The most common type of on site power generation is using an IC engine-driven
generator.
They are available in a broad range of capacities and can have very high efficiencies. A
couple of manufacturers are producing microturbine generators and there are products
under development by additional companies and in additional sizes from the current
manufacturers.
Gas turbine generators are sold for applications requiring greater capacities and one
brand of fuel cell is available. Many different companies are in the process of developing
fuel cells for on site power generation and more products will become available.
How are generators classified, what is a kW?

Generators are classified by the .combustion. system and their rated electrical output.
Combustion refers to whether an IC engine, microturbine, gas turbine, or fuel cell is used
to convert the fuel to mechanical energy. It is in quotes because while most of these
technologies use a combustion process, fuel cells use a chemical process without
combustion. The electrical output or capacity is the number of kilowatts (kW) or
megawatts (MW) of power generated. A kilowatt or megawatt is a measure of the rate of
energy use or production. How much energy is consumed or produced is measured in
kilowatt- or megawatt-hours. One kilowatt is equal to 1000 watts. A 100 watt light bulb
has an electrical load of 0.100 kilowatts; if the bulb is left on for 10 hours it consumes
1000 watt-hours or 1.0 kilowatt-hours (kWh).
What are gas turbines?

A gas turbine burns a gas or liquid fuel to produce rotary motion, the turbine blades spin
about a central axis. The turbine and air compressor are mounted on a central shaft; the
electric generator can be mounted on the same shaft or on a second shaft and driven by
a gear drive. The rotary motion requires fewer moving parts than the reciprocating action
of an IC engine and consequently produces fewer vibrations and needs less
maintenance. Gas turbines were developed for marine engines in boats and jet engines

in airplanes as well as in large industrial turbines for utility power generation. The smaller
gas turbine generators are aeroderivatives, descendants of jet aircraft engines.
What are microturbines?

Microturbines are a fairly recent innovation bringing the advantages of gas turbines to
markets for smaller applications. They employ an air compressor and turbine blades on
a single shaft. Some employ a recuperator to boost their efficiency and air bearings to
reduce maintenance costs. Products are available ranging from 30 kW to 200 kW of
capacity; this range will eventually expand to include 300 kW generators.
What is a recuperator and why is it important?

A recuperator is an internal heat exchanger that is used to recover energy from the
turbine exhaust and use it to pre-heat inlet air. Using some of the exhaust energy to heat
the air before mixing it with the fuel for combustion allows the same combustion
temperatures and generating capacity to be reached using less fuel. Recuperators can
double the efficiency of microturbine generators. Recuperators are used to increase the
efficiency of microtubrines.
What is an HRSG?
A heat recovery steam generator, or HRSG, is used to recover energy from the hot
exhaust gases in power generation. It is a bank of tubes that is mounted in the exhaust
stack. Exhaust gases at as much as 1000°F heat the tubes. Water pumped through the
tubes can be held under high pressure to temperatures of 370°F or higher or it can be
boiled to produce steam. The HRSG separates the caustic compounds in the flue gases
from the occupants and equipment that use the waste heat.
What are fuel cells?

Fuel cells are devices that use a chemical reaction to produce an electric current. Some
of the fuel cells can achieve very high efficiencies. They are frequently compared to
batteries where the chemicals needed for the reactions are stored within the battery
itself. Fuel cells differ in that they are connected to a source of fuel, almost always
molecular hydrogen. Hydrogen is combined with oxygen from the air to produce water
and electric current; electrons flow between the cathode and anode of the fuel cell
through an external circuit and while positive chemical ions flow in the opposite direction
within the fuel cell itself. Fuel cells are categorized by the substance used for ionic flow
in the fuel cell; phosphoric acid (PAFC) proton exchange membranes (PEMFC), solid
oxide (SOFC), molten carbonate (MCFC), etc.
Can I buy a fuel cell?

There is only one fuel cell suitable for CHP applications is commercially available in the
spring of 2001. It is a 200 kW phosphoric acid fuel cell. Many other products are under
development worldwide but are not yet on the market.
What is a reformer?
Generally speaking, fuel cells use molecular hydrogen as their fuel and oxygen from the
air to produce electricity. A reformer is a device that allows a fuel cell to use a
hydrocarbon fuel like natural gas or propane as the fuel. It uses a catalyst, water, and
heat to break down the
hydrocarbon releasing hydrogen as fuel to the fuel cell and carbon dioxide to the
atmosphere.

What is a desiccant dehumidifier?
Dehumidifiers by definition remove humidity from the air. Normally this is done by finned
cooling tubes in a heat exchanger cooling the moisture in the air below the dew point
temperature so the moisture condenses and drips into a condensate pan or drain. This
process is energy intensive because it requires cooling the tubes and air below
temperatures that are comfortable for occupants, and therefore often has to be reheated.
Desiccants are chemical compounds that have an affinity for water vapor, in a sense
they absorb it like a sponge. A desiccant dehumidifier may deploy solid desiccants (e.g.
silica gel) deposited on honeycombed surfaces to provide lots of area for water vapor to
be absorbed. Blowing air through these surfaces removes moisture from it before it
enters the building and thereby reduces humidity levels. Liquid desiccants (e.g. lithium
chloride solution in water) are also used in spray systems for dehumidifying air , but are
usually reserved for special applications
How do desiccant dehumidifiers use waste heat in a CHP system?

Desiccant materials can be heated to remove water vapor from them. This is done in a
practical application by building the desiccant into a wheel that rotates through the
building supply and exhaust air. For example, supply air being brought into a building is
passed through the left side of the wheel where the desiccant absorbs water vapor.
Exhaust air is heated and blown through the right side of the wheel where it removes the
moisture from the desiccant (regeneration) and then vented outdoors. The wheel is
rotated slowly so the desiccant has sufficient residency time to transfer the moisture to
and from the desiccant media. Steam or hot water from a HRSG can be used to provide
the heat needed to raise the exhaust air temperature to regenerate the desiccant.
What is a chiller?
Most small buildings, such as houses use a forced air distribution system to provide hot
or cold air for comfort conditioning. Large buildings frequently use a hydronic distribution
system and pump chilled water to air handling units to provide cool air for air
conditioning. A chiller is the machine that cools water to around 44°F for distribution to
the air handling units.
What is an absorption chiller?

Absorption chillers use heat and a chemical solution to produce chilled water. A gas
burner is usually used to produce the heat with a mixture of lithium bromide and water as
the chemical solution. Recovered waste heat in the form of hot water or steam can be
used to power an indirect-fired absorption chiller (they use electricity for solution pumps,
but only a small fraction of the electricity that electric motor driven chillers require). Some
absorption chillers can also use hot exhaust gases directly and eliminate the need more
producing hot water or steam.
What are single- and double-effect absorption chillers?

Without getting technical, the number of .effects. in a chiller reflects the number of times
energy is used. A single-effect machine uses heat just once to produce chilled water. A
double-effect machine contains heat exchangers to recover heat left over from the first
stage of cooling to produce additional refrigerant vapor and more cooling. Double-effect
is more efficient than single-effect. Triple-effect chillers are under development.
What is a cooling tower?

Every type of air conditioning or refrigeration process is a means of moving heat from
where it is not wanted to medium where it can be rejected. The radiator of a car is a dry,

finned-tube heat exchanger that is used to reject engine heat to the outdoor air
efficiently. A cooling tower is essentially a wet heat exchanger used to reject heat from a
chiller or excess heat from a HRSG. The water spray over tube banks in a cooling tower
is more efficient at rejecting heat than a dry heat exchanger. It allows lower operating
pressures in the chiller and greater efficiencies.
What is power conditioning?

Utilities in the U.S. distribute electricity at standard conditions with specifications for
voltage, frequency, and type. Consequently most of our electrical appliances are
designed for 60 Hz, alternating current. Power conditioning is the process of taking
whatever electricity is produced by a generator and converting it to meet the industry
standards so it can be used without damaging whatever is plugged in, be it a hair dryer,
television, or computer. Power conditioning is an essential part of on site power
generation.
What is NOx and why is it called a pollutant?

NOx is an abbreviation or acronym used to refer to nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide
(NO2). Both of these chemical compounds contribute to urban smog and can contribute
to acid rain so their emissions are carefully controlled by government agencies. They
can be formed during high temperature combustion from nitrogen in the air. Careful
control of the combustion process or treatment of exhaust gases is needed to keep
emissions low.
What is SOx and why is it a pollutant?

SOx encompasses a group of chemical compounds of sulfur and oxygen, but it
predominantly it refers to sulfur dioxide, SO2. Sulfur dioxide is formed during combustion
from sulfur compounds in the fuel and oxygen in the air. Liquid and solid fuels like
gasoline and coal contain sulfur compounds and cause SOx in the flue emissions; SOx
is not an issue with gaseous fuels likenatural gas and propane. Sulfur dioxide dissolves
in water forming sulfuric acid, the principal constituent of acid rain. SOx emissions are
strictly regulated.
What is SCR?
SCR stands for selective catalytic reduction and is a process for removing NOx from
exhaust gases in order to meet pollution control requirements.

CONVERSION FACTORS
Electrical to Thermal
Energy 1 kWh = 3,412.8 Btu
1 BTU = 778 ft-lbs
Rate of Energy = Power 1 kW = 3,412.8 Btu/h

1 hp = 2,545 Btu/h
Fuel Oil #2 1 Gallon = 130,000 Btu

Fuel Oil #6 1 Gallon = 143,000 Btu
Natural Gas 1 Therm = 100,000 Btu
Refrigeration Tons 1 RT = 12,000 Btu/h

1 RT-h = 12,000 Btu
Steam to Thermal
Energy 1 lbs steam* = 1,000 Btu
Rate of Energy = Power 1 lbs stm/h* = 1,000 Btu/h
NOx Emission 1 ppm@ = 0.0472 lb/MWh

15% oxygen
* Use actual enthalpy values from steam tables at given pressure and temperature for more accuracy!

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Combined Heat & Power (CHP)

Resource Guide for Hospital

Midwest CHP Application Center

Avalon Consulting, Inc.

Heating Value of Fuels

Units LHV HHV LHV/HHV

Coal - Bituminous Btu/lb 13,600 14,100 0.965

Electric = Avg. kW output (for a period)

Electric = Avg. kW (for a period)

Calculating CHP Efficiency

CHP Efficiency = (kWe x 3412.8) + (Recovered Thermal Energy)

2 CHP Resource Guide for Hospitals

3 CHP Resource Guide for Hospitals

4 CHP Resource Guide for Hospitals

5 CHP Resource Guide for Hospitals

The primary objective of this guidebook is to provide a reference document of basic

This guidebook should be useful to energy engineers, facility operations directors/managers,

6 CHP Resource Guide for Hospitals

1.1 Inefficient Electric Power

1.2 Electric Reliability

Mississippi Baptist Medical Center, located in Jackson, MS.

1.3 Status of the Hospital Construction Industry

7 CHP Resource Guide for Hospitals

1.4 Oversized Emergency Generator Sets

1.5 Issues Facing Hospital Facility Managers

8 CHP Resource Guide for Hospitals

• Distributed Generation (DG):

• Combined Heat and Power (CHP):

2.2 The CHP Concept

2.2.1 Direct Fired

Figure 2-1 Combined Heat and Power Diagram – Direct Fired

9 CHP Resource Guide for Hospitals

2.2.2 Indirect Fired Concept

Figure 2-2 Combined Heat and Power Diagram – Indirect Fired

10 CHP Resource Guide for Hospitals

2.3 Normal Operating Configuration

11 CHP Resource Guide for Hospitals

3.1 Conventional Energy System for Hospitals

• Conventional System Energy Efficiency (Grid Power + On-Site Thermal)

• Emergency Generator Sets:

12 CHP Resource Guide for Hospitals

3.2 Typical Hospital CHP System Configurations

Table 3-1 Emergency Generators vs. CHP Systems

Emergency Generators vs. CHP Systems

13 CHP Resource Guide for Hospitals

4.1 Key Factors for CHP Financial Attractiveness

In 1995, Northwest Community Hospital of Arlington Heights, Illinois,

4.1.1 Good Electric and Thermal Load Coincidence

The questions to be studied and evaluated are:

V What should be considered in getting the best use of thermal energy?

14 CHP Resource Guide for Hospitals

** Utilizing desiccants regenerated by the exhaust thermal energy from the

15 CHP Resource Guide for Hospitals

Table 4-1 Estimating “Spark Spread”

1. Determine the Average Annual Electric Cost ($/MMBtu):

16 CHP Resource Guide for Hospitals

Table 4-2 “Rules-of-Thumb” for Acceptable Average Annual Fuel Cost

Average Annual Electric Maximum Acceptable Average

4.1.3 Long Operating Hours