UCLA Energy Services Facility - Los Angeles, California

Project Owners / Partners

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP)
Air Products and Chemicals
South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD)
Southern California Gas Company
General Electric Company

DER Technology

Two 14.5-MW Combustion Turbines
Two Heat Recovery Steam Generators
48-MW Condensing Steam Turbine
Three Centrifugal Chillers
Four Absorption Chillers

Overview

In the 1980's, the UCLA campus included a number of energy-intensive buildings. Many of these buildings were serviced by aging and unreliable in-building chilled water systems. A central energy facility on campus was eventually considered and became economically feasible when a combined-cycle cogeneration approach was taken.

At a capital cost of $188 million, the new Energy Services Facility (ESF) was constructed on the UCLA campus during 1991-1993 and completed in 1994. The backbone of the facility is a pair of 14.5-MW combustion turbine generators that operate on a combination of landfill gas and natural gas. The exhaust from the turbines is sent to two heat recovery steam generators that produce steam at 660 psig and 750°F. The steam drives a 48-MW condensing steam turbine generator and is also routed to more than 100 campus buildings through an underground distribution network to heat space and water in campus buildings.

For cooling, the steam turbine drives two centrifugal chillers; a third centrifugal chiller is electric-powered. The exhaust steam from the two steam turbine chillers, in turn, powers four absorption chillers. Chilled water is circulated at 42.5°F in underground dual piping loops to eighteen campus buildings.

The ESF at UCLA restored reliability, increased efficiency, and generated a positive cash flow for the school. Through the use of combined heat and power (CHP), the UCLA campus reduced the amount of electricity it once purchased from LADWP by 85%.

Contacts

UCLA Energy Services: (310) 825-3402