HomeMy WebLinkAboutPoint Lay Heat Recovery Case Study - REF Grant 2195467 est 2015Point Lay, Alaska
Point Lay Heat Recovery Project
Quick Facts
Total Project Costs: $435,503
Capital Costs
Design: $39,591
Construction: $395,912
Equipment
Generator Make/Model: Caterpillar 3508 (Marine)
Output: 682 BKW, or 915 BHP
Diesel Fuel Off set
Estimated Annual: 6,000 gallons
Actual Annual: 20,000 gallons
2013-2014: 20,000 gallons
Fuel Savings
Estimated Annual: $46,000
Actual Annual: $98,000
2013-2014: $98,000
Estimated Payback: 8.8 years
Actual Payback: 4.4 years
CASE STUDY
Project Overview
In partnership with the Alaska Energy Authority, the
North Slope Borough designed and constructed a
heat recovery project in the city of Point Lay, Alaska.
Th e system connects the North Slope Borough Health
Clinic, Search & Rescue Offi ce, and Police Depart-
ment to their diesel-generated power plant. Th ese
buildings utilize recovered heat from the plant that
would otherwise be emitted into the atmosphere via
radiators.
Objectives
Th e project objectives were to deliver recovered heat
from the diesel plant to several buildings in Point Lay
and to reduce heating costs to the power house.
Heat Recovery-How it Works
As a rule of thumb, engines are 30% effi cient. Th at is,
of the fuel energy input, 30% each goes to horsepower,
jacket water heat, and exhaust heat. 10% goes to radi-
ation and other losses. Jacket water cools the engine
by dissipating almost 28% of the heat it generates. Th is
heat is low grade and is sent to the atmosphere using
radiators or cooling towers. Heat recovery is a unique
system that takes heat captured in the jacket water and
harnesses it for space heating. Th e jacket water loop
is isolated from the building heating loop by a heat
exchanger so that the heat recovery system does not
impact engine performance.
Economic Feasibility
Th e system became operational in August of 2013.
Since then it has provided the community with 2,153
MMBtu of thermal energy and displaced 20,000 gal-
lons of diesel fuel. Th is displacement has saved Point
Lay $98,000. Over its 20 year projected lifespan, the
project has a benefi t/cost ratio of 1.37, meaning that
the benefi ts outweigh the costs by 1.37.
Photo, left :
Diesel
engine with
attached
heat recov-
ery system.
Photo
courtesy of
AEA.
Allocation of Funding
Th e Alaska Energy Authority’s Renewable Energy
Fund granted $395,912 for the fi nal design and con-
struction of the heat system. Local funds matched
$39,591 and contributed to the construction.
Relevant Information
Th e heat recovery system is designed to reduce the
amount of fuel consumed at the end user building and
is not intended to serve as a primary heat source. Th e
heating system in the end user building must be fully
operational, maintained, and set to operate at appro-
priate temperatures to allow the heat recovery system
to function. Th e amount of heat available for recovery
varies with the electrical load on the generators.
Learning Experiences/Challenges
Th e new Point Lay power plant and heat recovery sys-
tem was completely destroyed by fi re as it was nearing
the completion of the construction phase. Luckily, the
original power plant was still in operation and was not
damaged by the fi re. Th e cause of the fi re appeared to
be sparks from welding that ignited during the night.
Proper safety oversight and burn permits could have
prevented this disaster. Th e North Slope Borough and
the construction contractor were insured, however, the
rebuild of the system delayed the project by 2 years.
Community Benefi ts
1. Th e primary community benefi t of this project is
the lowered cost of heating the North Slope Borough’s
community buildings. Th e saving to the community
can be added to the maintenance and equipment re-
placement funds to off set future costs.
2. Other varied benefi ts include local construction
jobs, a clean energy source, increased heating reliabil-
ity, increased system-wide fl exibility, less air pollution
in the village from decreased fuel use, lower probabili-
ty of fuel spills in the village, and reduced maintenance
of heating plants in each building.
Project Contact information
Parties Involved: Parties Involved:
Richard San Jose, Project Manager
Email: richard.sanjose@north-slope.org
Phone: 907-852-0489
David Hodges, NSB Dept. of Public Works
Email: dhodges@gci.net
Phone: 907-243-1940
Case Study Author:Case Study Author:
Zoe Tressel, AEA
Email: ztressel@aidea.org
Phone: 907-771-3000
Portion of heat recovery system. Photo courtesy of AEA.
Point Lay Powerhouse. Photo courtesy of skweskimos.com
Point Lay, Alaska