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GREENWICH HOSPITAL FINE-TUNES ITS ENERGY SAVINGS WITH A NEW MIURA EX-100BHP STEAM BOILER Adds Smaller-Capacity Boiler to Existing Multiple Installation and Dials-In on Demand GREENWICH, CT August 30, 2010 –Back at the turn of the millennium, modular steam boiler systems that help reduce energy costs by distributing demand across a number of smaller units were a relatively new concept in the American market. Industrial-size steam boilers that could go from a cold start to ready in five minutes were simply unheard of. But when Greenwich Hospital (Greenwich CT) decided that it was time to build a new steam-generation plant, they considered this cutting-edge concept not only for its huge energy-savings potential, but also for its much lower greenhouse gas emission rating. What ultimately helped make the final decision, however, was the boilers’ compact design, which required half the space of a traditional fire-tube configuration, and – as a result – cost less to install. The design allowed the extra space to be used for important clinical functions. Greenwich Hospital chose a Multiple Installation configuration of seven Miura EX-200BHP boilers to provide steam for the hospital’s heat, hot water, and sterilization systems. That was back in 1998. Twelve years later, advancements in boiler technology – and the addition of a micro-turbine-based co-generation plant, which changed Greenwich Hospital’s steam-load profile – made it possible for the hospital to further decrease its energy consumption with additional fine-tuning of its steam-generation output. The move, which increases economy and further reduces emissions, consisted of removing one of the hospital’s Miura EX-200BHP units and replacing it with a new Miura EX-100BHP unit. This substitution enables Greenwich Hospital to more exactingly dial-in on demand and bring only the needed capacity online. “We have been using a Multiple Installation of modular Miura boilers for about 12 years,” said Stephen Carbery, Vice President, Facilities, Design and Construction for Greenwich Hospital. “When we first installed these boilers, modularity was a new concept for us and, as with any new technology, there was a learning curve. But, once the new system was installed and optimized, we could really see the value of being able to switch boilers on and off as needed instead of having large units idling in standby. Currently, we have calculated that the Miura system is saving us approximately 20 percent on our energy costs compared with the fuel economy of other comparable systems.” What makes this modular system possible is the unique ability of Miura boilers to go from a cold start to a full head of steam in five minutes or less. By heating smaller quantities of water in its once-through fin-tube design, Miura boilers eliminate the lengthy start-up times necessary to heat large volumes of water in larger boilers that mostly idle in stand-by mode to stay ready. The further advantage of not having to calibrate fuel- and air-combustion ratios over the entire operating range is also an advantage, as the boilers only go from off to low fire and then high fire, which is a distinct operating feature over conventional designs. After a recent audit of the facility’s energy consumption, Greenwich Hospital realized that during certain part-load conditions there was still a small amount of unused online capacity. For example, if demand required 300 BHP of output, two 200 BHP units would be brought online to meet that demand. That left a remaining 100 BHP of capacity fired but unused and wasting energy. To eliminate that situation, Greenwich Hospital increased the system’s flexibility to allow it to meet demand increases in 100 BHP – instead of 200 BHP – increments. The advantage of this new arrangement is particularly evident for demands such as 425BHP. “With the addition of the 100 BHP unit into our system, we can now make even finer adjustments to our steam output and reduce the amount of fired, but unused capacity,” noted Carbery. “Basically, why fire 600 BHP when you only need 425 BHP? Instead, with the new 100BHP Miura unit, we can fire 500 BHP to meet that demand.” “We are very pleased with the performance of our Miura Multiple Installation boiler system and expect that our newest modification will give the increased flexibility to maximize our energy savings and reduce facility-operating costs,” Carbery confirmed. “This new modification, in my mind, only reaffirms that we made the right decision to choose Miura back in 1998.” The Miura EX-200 BHP unit being retired will be stored in the boiler room for future expansion or parts should the need arise. About Greenwich Hospital About Miura Boiler |
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