Utilities
The utilities area is responsible for the following utilities: Steam, natural gas, electricity, cooling, and domestic water.
The Steam Plant was originally built in 1926 with additions in 1946 and 1968. The coal fired boilers have steam output capacities of 45, 50, & 80 thousand pounds per hour. The two dual fuel (natural gas or #2 fuel oil) boilers have steam output capacities of 100 thousand pounds per hour each. Steam is distributed through three 8” pipes with one serving the north campus, one serving the center and west campus, and the third serving the south campus.
Natural gas is distributed to campus on a limited basis via a 4” gas main with the steam lines. The majority of buildings which require natural gas are served by individual taps served by Ameren.
Electrical power for campus is received from a 12.5kv transmission line into a switchyard adjacent to the Steam Plant. Utility-owned transformers reduce the voltage to 4160v which is fed to ten individual campus primary circuits. These circuits in turn distribute 4kv to individual building transformers via underground duct cells. This switchyard will be reduced in size, as the loops mentioned below are established, and eventually eliminated. A second service point has been established in Greek Court. Electrical power for this switchyard is received from a 12.5kv transmission line. One line coming out of this switchyard serves Fine Arts, Buzzard, and Life Science at 12.47kv. The second line goes to a University owned transformer which reduces the voltage to 4160v for electrical distribution in the south quad. The electrical master plan calls for a second switchyard to be established in University Court to establish 4 feeder loops at 12.47kv. Those loops are to serve the north campus, south campus, west campus, and Greek Court/Carman. These two switch yards would be fed from the new high voltage service established under the upcoming energy services contract project.
The campus is moving toward upgrading the campus primary distribution voltage to 12.47kv as opportunities arise. Moving from 4160v to 12.47kv will reduce line loss by 2/3, increase capacity by 200%, and move to a more standard utility voltage thus making repairs easier. The campus will also transition from a radial feed like a wheel to a loop feed. This will increase reliability in case a section fails, it can easily be segregated from the rest of the loop and the loop can continue to function while the section is repaired.
In 1995, Eastern Illinois University initiated design of a chilled water loop to connect the air-conditioning equipment of four buildings together. The four academic buildings that were connected to the chilled water loop are Buzzard Hall, Booth Library, Life Science and Fine Arts Complex. The goals of the project were to improve energy efficiency by using excess capacity in individual equipment, improve reliability by sharing equipment, permit the cooling of the buildings during seasonal shoulder periods, and to defer the replacement of old equipment all at once. This initiative has been very successful.
The project in FY98/99 added four buildings to the loop. The residence halls that were connected were Stevenson Tower, Lincoln and Douglas Halls and Tower Food Service. The academic building connected was Lantz Complex which includes the Rec Center. Some funds were used to convert old steam-based chilled water equipment to electrical equipment (FY2000, Taylor Hall, Lawson Hall and the connecting Food Service, residence hall complex experienced the change) that is more efficient and will permit the implementation of electrical peak-shaving techniques. In 2002, Phase II ESCo replaced steam chillers with electric driven units in Thomas/Andrews, Stevenson, Physical Science and Carman. These projects increased the reliability of cooling systems, and allowed for the more efficient use of energy throughout the year.
In FY2001/02 the University extended the existing chilled water loop to Physical Science Building, McAfee and University Union Food Court. Under the same project, a mini-loop was installed between Taylor and Thomas mechanical rooms allowing those complexes to share chillers. Then, under the Phase II ESCo, a “South Quad” chilled water loop was created which connected the residence hall complexes – Taylor/Lawson and Thomas/ Andrews, with Coleman and Klehm Halls and the new Human Services facility. The South loop is anticipated to be connected to the North loop at a future date. Currently there are 11 buildings connected on the North loop, and 8 buildings and two food services on the south loop. To date, there are 2.2M GSF connected to the campus chilled water loop system which represents about 68% of the total campus space. This loop may be extended further north to pick up Textbook Rental and Blair Hall.
Domestic water is received from the city in three locations onto the campus domestic water system. This system serves the same buildings as the Steam Plant.
