NYC Health + Hospitals Bellevue Hospital CHP

Severely damaged and forced to close for several months after Super storm Sandy, Bellevue Hospital saw the need and opportunity to implement a resilient combined heat and power (CHP) system to increase energy resiliency while simultaneously reducing energy costs and increasing energy efficiency.

Dynamic was the design-builder constructing a 4MW CHP system capable of delivering on-site power to Bellevue Hospital in the event of an electric utility outage for an extended amount of time.

The Combined Heat and Power (CHP) facility is comprised of two 2MW reciprocating engine generators each with thermal heat recovery equipment capable of generating hot water using the waste heat available in the engines’ exhaust stream. The hot water generated by the CHP serves as the heating and cooling loads within the H-building.

The two 2MW reciprocating engine CHP units provide normal electrical power demands of the H-Building while the existing diesel emergency generators serve the emergency electrical power demands during an electric utility outage. The CHP system is also capable of turning down its’ electrical output to 800kW per unit while still maintaining stable operation for periods when the connected load may be reduced. Each unit is capable of operating independently from the other as well as in parallel.

The CHP system helps Bellevue reduce energy costs and increase energy efficiency in the Department Building and the H-Building, from low-tension to high-tension, to further increase energy cost savings.

Some of the major project accomplishments are the replacement of the roof, replacement of the Air Handling Systems, installation of a new Building Management (BMS) System, modifications to the laboratory fume hood that reduces the ventilation coming in, proper dispersion of the fume hood exhaust to improve indoor air quality, and control of the temperature and humidity in the laboratories and offices.