Case Study of the Austin Energy Dell Regional Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas Packaged Hybrid CHP Energy Plant in Austin, Texas

Abstract

Innovative approach to designing an integrated packaged and
modular hybrid energy plant allows for improved reliability, redun-
dancy and ef ficiency. Austin Energy, who will own and operate this
plant, selected Burns & McDonnell as their packaged plant integrator.
Austin Energy has signed an energy services agreement to provide the
new hospital with power, chilled water and steam.
The plant is the first of its kind in the State of Texas using the
CHP module to generate primary power for the Dell Children’s Medi-
cal Center of Central Texas with the grid providing backup power. The
packaged and modular CHP plant will utilize the state-of-the-art Solar
Turbines Mercury 50 combustion turbine, which has a simple cycle heat
rate ef ficiency of 38 percent and produces less than 5 ppm NO x and
meets the Texas 2005 emission mandate without the need for a catalyst,
counting the thermal bene fits of steam and chilled water. In addition,
the hybrid plant will utilize a heat recovery steam generator, packaged
chiller plant and boiler, absorption cooling and thermal energy storage
to maximize system ef ficiency, operational flexibility and reliability of
services to the hospital and the campus district cooling system.

The hybrid energy plant control system will allow the system to
be remotely monitored and operated from an off-site operational control
center. This article will provide insight into the design of the hybrid
energy plant and present features and bene fits to this type of packaged
and modular system approach. In addition to hospitals that have a need
for grid independence, universities, airports, and other critical facilities,
such as data centers, will bene fit from this type of packaged hybrid
energy plant approach.