UI Steam Power

As an interdisciplinary engineering capstone senior design team our objective was to perform a feasibility analysis for implementing such a cogeneration system at the Steam Plant. We brought together the combined engineering knowledge from the fields of Bio-Agricultural, Mechanical, and Electrical Engineering.

=Background=

The University of Idaho Steam Plant first started operating in 1940 with 1 original boiler. The steam plants main purpose is to provide steam for heating and cooling inside the buildings on campus. As the load got higher, 3 more boilers were installed on site to help maintain the constant pressure and flow needed for the campus. The primary boiler used today is the wood boiler. It was installed in 1985 and can run a flow rate of up to 60,000 lb/hr. The highest school load recorded was ~70,000 lb/hr, therefore the other 3 boilers are natural gas fueled and are used at load amounts that exceed the capacity of the wood boiler.

=Feasibility Analysis Specifications=
 * Electrical load profiling
 * Thermal load profiling
 * New utility rate structure analysis
 * Unit sizing
 * Thermal use determination/distribution system analysis
 * Installation cost estimates
 * Permitting impacts
 * Utility interconnection requirements
 * Financial calculations(simple payback, IRR, Cash Flow Diagrams)
 * Presentation of six design/construction models to client
 * Fully develop client design preference

=Current System Model= The Current System Model is broken up into 7 stages.
 * Boilers
 * Pressure Reducing Valves
 * Condenser(Campus)
 * Condensate Tank
 * Condensate Pumps
 * Dearator Tank
 * Feedwater Pumps

EES Verification
The program Engineering Equation Solver (EES) is used to model the current steam system, and estimate boiler efficiency using inputs of steam generated and fuel usage. EES is further utilized in estimating the isentropic efficiency of several existing turbines at other universities. Finally, it will be used to predict predict power generation of both turbine system models.

=Selected Models= Below are the 2 models our client has chosen for us to model and continue looking into for the spring semester of 2014.

=Team Members=



Group photo of us inside the University of Idaho's Wood Boiler (Somewhat blurry but a great photo)

=Document Archive=

Design Review Presentation


Team Minutes
      