Blackstone Steam Plant Upgrade Project
© 2011 President and Fellows of Harvard College
Engineering & Utilities
Responsible for managing University
energy production and infrastructure
including
 Chilled water production and distribution
 Electrical distribution
 Thermal energy production and distribution
Blackstone Steam Plant Upgrade Project
© 2011 President and Fellows of Harvard College
 Several 13.8 KV delivery
locations
 Distribution owned and
operated by Harvard
 Harvard subsidiary company is
a licensed retail supplier in MA
 Power purchased from
wholesale market
 MA Renewable Portfolio
Standards (RPS) need to be met
Blackstone Steam Plant Upgrade Project
© 2011 President and Fellows of Harvard College
E&U Chilled Water Service
E&U Blackstone Steam
Blackstone Steam Plant Upgrade Project
© 2011 President and Fellows of Harvard College
Current Blackstone Steam Plant Operation
 Primary heat energy source to 160 Cambridge and Allston
campus buildings (~11 million gsf)
 Operates four boilers, one 1930 vintage (Boiler 6) two 1960
vintage (Boilers 11 and 12), one commissioned in 2009
(Boiler 13 with low NOx burners and CO catalyst)
 Capability to meet campus steam demand with largest
boiler out of service (firm capacity)
 Fuel mix consisting of natural gas, residual oil (0.5%
sulfur), and ultra low sulfur diesel (0.003% sulfur)
 Nominal 5 MW steam turbine-generator set added in 2009.
 Operation by licensed staff 24 Hr/Day, 365 Days/Yr
Blackstone Steam Plant Upgrade Project
© 2011 President and Fellows of Harvard College
Current Blackstone Steam Plant Operation
Blackstone Steam Plant Upgrade Project
© 2011 President and Fellows of Harvard College
Blackstone Steam Plant History
• Electric utility power generation operations began in 1904
• 1930 modernization replaced boilers, added steam turbines, and
initiated steam supply service to Harvard
• 1962 expansion added two boilers
• Acquired by Harvard in 2004 to ensure security of campus
steam supply
• Steam plant upgrade project initiated in 2004 to improve steam
supply quality and reliability.
• Back pressure steam turbine assessed as incremental upgrade
project work scope.
Blackstone Steam Plant Upgrade Project
© 2011 President and Fellows of Harvard College
Reciprocating Engine-Generator
1930 Plant Modernization
Blackstone Steam Plant Upgrade Project
© 2011 President and Fellows of Harvard College
2004 – Retired Turbine Hall Equipment
Blackstone Steam Plant Upgrade Project
© 2011 President and Fellows of Harvard College
New & Replacement Equipment
• Boiler 13
• Back pressure steam turbine
• Standby diesel generator
• Boiler feed pumps
• Deaerating heaters
• Natural gas service and
metering upgrade
• Fuel oil storage tanks
• Fuel oil pumps
• Fuel oil off-loading and spill
containment
• Reverse osmosis water treatment
• City and treated water pumps
• Water storage tanks
• Air-cooled cooling water heat
sink
• Plate heat exchanger
• Cooling water pumps
Blackstone Steam Plant Upgrade Project
© 2011 President and Fellows of Harvard College
Fuel Oil Tank Installation
Blackstone Steam Plant Upgrade Project
© 2011 President and Fellows of Harvard College
Deaerator Delivery
Blackstone Steam Plant Upgrade Project
© 2011 President and Fellows of Harvard College
Economizer Entering Boiler Room via Roll Up Door
Blackstone Steam Plant Upgrade Project
© 2011 President and Fellows of Harvard College
Economizer Rigging (inside)
Boiler Assembly
Blackstone Steam Plant Upgrade Project
© 2011 President and Fellows of Harvard College
Structural Improvements
• Base mat for new Boiler 13
• Pile-supported steel structure for Boiler 13 and auxiliaries
• Replace utility services tunnel roof
• Steam turbine pedestal structure
• New concrete floor in feed pump area
• Turbine deck supplementary steel for new equipment
support
Blackstone Steam Plant Upgrade Project
© 2011 President and Fellows of Harvard College
Drilled Mini Piles & Boiler Area Structure
Tunnel Roof Replacement
Blackstone Steam Plant Upgrade Project
© 2011 President and Fellows of Harvard College
Boiler Area Mat Reinforcing Steel
Blackstone Steam Plant Upgrade Project
© 2011 President and Fellows of Harvard College
Blackstone Layout & Upgrade Project Area
Pre-existing
Control
Room
New
LV
Switchge
ar
Boiler 5
Retired
Water Storage
Boiler
Feed
Pumps
Boiler 11
Boiler 12
Boiler 13
Diesel
Deaerators
Reverse
Osmosis
MV Switchgear
Turbine
Boiler 6
Fuel Oil Pumps
and Fin Fan Cooler
Blackstone Steam Plant Upgrade Project
© 2011 President and Fellows of Harvard College
Steam Turbine Summary
• Nominal 5,000 kW capability
• 200,000 Lb/Hr throttle flow at 400 psig, 700 deg-F
• Back pressure from 100 psig to 125 psig
• 7,900 RPM operating speed with reduction gear
• Operates in back pressure mode, electric power production in
response to thermal energy requirements
• Interconnection supplies all power production directly to
Harvard electrical load
• Selection and optimization via simulated dispatch against
daily campus thermal loads.
Blackstone Steam Plant Upgrade Project
© 2011 President and Fellows of Harvard College
Turbine Pedestal Steel
Turbine Delivery to Pedestal
Blackstone Steam Plant Upgrade Project
© 2011 President and Fellows of Harvard College
Turbine Installed and Operating
Blackstone Steam Plant Upgrade Project
© 2011 President and Fellows of Harvard College
Steam Turbine Capability Optimization
• Size based on annual thermal loading rather than maximum peak
• Assessed as incremental project with simulated dispatch showing approximate
5-year payback based on $6.5 million installed cost.
• Proposed larger machine size showed reduced economic performance.
Blackstone Steam Plant Upgrade Project
© 2011 President and Fellows of Harvard College
Turbine Performance Optimization
• Proposed performance, best efficiency at maximum load point
Blackstone Steam Plant Upgrade Project
© 2011 President and Fellows of Harvard College
Turbine Performance Optimization
• Contract performance, best efficiency at part load point
Blackstone Steam Plant Upgrade Project
© 2011 President and Fellows of Harvard College
Turbine Performance Optimization
Blackstone Steam Plant Upgrade Project
© 2011 President and Fellows of Harvard College
Turbine Performance Optimization
• Contract performance characteristic results in 28%
more annual electric power production with steam
plant meeting same thermal load and with no additional
steam plant heat input.
• One equivalent year of power production after fourth
year of turbine operation.
Blackstone Steam Plant Upgrade Project
© 2011 President and Fellows of Harvard College
Steam Turbine Operation & Benefits
• Fully commissioned with operation initiated to meet campus
thermal energy and electrical loads in October 2009
• Electric Power Production
• 18,500,000 kWH produced through December 2010
• Campus Green House Gas Reduction
• 9,100 MTCDE of GHG offset through December 2010
• MA Alternative Portfolio Standard
• Qualified as alternative energy resource under MA APS program
• 12,000 MWH of Alternative Energy Credits produced.
• Fulfills Harvard’s Renewable Portfolio Standard requirements
• Blackstone Reliability
• Turbine adds third level of contingency to steam plant auxiliary
power supply.
Blackstone Steam Plant Upgrade Project
© 2011 President and Fellows of Harvard College
Conclusions & Lessons Learned
• Thermal and Electrical Load Characteristics
• Knowledge of thermal and electrical load
characteristics enabled beneficial turbine size and
performance optimization at Blackstone.
• Vendor Flexibility
• Assess ability and willingness of vendor to support
optimization during bid selection
• Field vs. Factory Assembly
• From boiler experience, carefully consider
benefits/drawbacks of field and factory assembly.
Blackstone Steam Plant Upgrade Project
© 2011 President and Fellows of Harvard College
Blackstone Steam Plant Upgrade Project
© 2011 President and Fellows of Harvard College