Customer
Bon Secour, private health care provider
Location
Cork, Ireland
Customer Requirement
Generator for emergency backup power
Services
Feasibility studies, design, mechanical engineering, equipment supply, ancillary equipment, project management, installation, commissioning, maintenance
The requirement was to provide a secure and reliable emergency standby power supply to the critical acute hospital. It needed to support the entire existing hospital load, whilst being sufficiently sized to allow for an increased load profile as the power demand in the hospital rises over the next 10 years.
A 2500 kVA low voltage Caterpillar 3516B HD generator set solution was specified. The generator has a four-stroke diesel engine that combines consistent performance and excellent fuel economy with minimum weight. The solution included bulk storage and transfer, a fuel system, water mist detection and fire protection system, generator and load bank circuit breaker cubicle, electrical and mechanical building interfaces and Modbus. The Modbus allows remote communication with the hospital's Building Management System (BMS). The generator is supplied with fuel from a 26,000 litre double skinned tank. In the event of power failure, the generator has enough fuel to run continuously for 48 hours.
The project included a custom built container which was designed to have a small footprint and a removable raised floor - allowing access to underground ducts. Fire detection and suppression system and switchgear with load bank breaker were provided within the container. Due to the installations proximity to patient and staff areas of the hospital, the enclosure was acoustically treated to achieve a noise level not to exceed 70 dBA @ 1m.
The location of the site posed many logistical challenges. Being at the bottom of an acute slope access was difficult and the equipment needed to be craned into a space with only 5cm clearance either side. Finning designed delivered, offloaded, positioned, installed and commissioned the system, including Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and SiTe Acceptance Test (SAT). The scope of work also included providing fuel piping and trace heating - 20 metres of piping running from the bulk fuel tank to the generator enclosure had to be lagged and encased in aluminium cladding.
The client had to carry out some building modifications but, because of the compact design, did not need to demolish an adjoining building.
The superior load step capability, footprint and reduced noise levels of the new set has met expectations. Finning will provide ongoing maintenance including servicing, condition monitoring and parts supply
