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Plant Operations
Fuels | Steam Generation | Fuel Handling | Electricity Production | Chilled Water Production
Plant Diagram
Click on the image below to learn more about the coal receiving/handling, boiler, turbine generator, cooling tower, and chiller.
Indiana coal is the prime fuel source for the Wade Utility Plant. During fiscal year 2010-11, Wade consumed 66,913 ton of high-sulfur coal, 122,363 ton of low-sulfur coal, 111,242 ton of limestone, and 1,121,760 Therms of natural gas for an average fossil fuels delivered cost of approximately $4.259/Mbtu.
Steam is produced by the combustion of coal, natural gas, and fuel oil in the plant boilers. During fiscal year 2010-11 Wade plant boilers produced 3,265,726 klb. Steam production peaked at a level of 646,040 lb/hr.
| Unit | Type | Design Capacity | Emission Controls | Installed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Spreader-Stoker |
650 Psi @ 825 F |
215,000 LB/hr |
Mechanical Collector & Precipitator |
1961 |
|
2 |
Spreader-Stoker |
650 Psi @ 825 F |
215,000 LB/hr |
Mechanical Collector, Fluegas Cooling System & Baghouse |
1967 |
|
3 |
Gas/Oil Package |
650 Psi @ 750 F |
215,000 LB/hr |
N/A |
1973 |
|
5 |
Circulating Fluidized Bed |
650 Psi @ 810 F |
200,000 LB/hr |
Baghouse + |
1991 |
Coal is direct truck dumped to either a long belt conveyor, or a bucket elevator system and conveyed to storage bunkers within the plant. Each handling system has a designed transport capacity of 100 ton/hr.
The Wade Plant produces electricity using two steam turbine driven generators and one diesel engine driven generator that operate in parallel with the local electric utility. Because of campus seasonal process steam requirements of winter heating and summer cooling, electricity is generated through a topping cycle that often results in production costs that are lower than those available from local utility tariff pricing. During fiscal year 2010-11, the University had a peak system demand level of 50,500 kW and consumed a total of 299,652,652 kWh of electricity. Wade generation equipment produced 127,078,195 kWh with remaining balance supplied by local electric utility.
| Unit | Type | Rating | Installed |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Steam Turbine |
29,400 kW @ 12.5 kV |
1995 |
|
2 |
Steam Turbine |
10,380 kW @ 12.5 kV |
1967 |
|
3 |
Diesel |
1,825 kW @ 12.5 kV |
1999 |
The University has a constant demand for chilled water year round for environmental control and process cooling. Cooling is delivered through a closed water circulation loop in which 40-45 F is distributed out to campus and returned from building loads at 55-60 F. During peak of summer cooling season a heat rejection load of 26,710 ton-hr is placed upon the chiller plant. In fiscal year 2010-11 a total of 96,740,939 ton-hr of cooling were produced.
| Unit | Type | Rating | Refrigerant | Installed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6 |
Centrifugal |
Steam Turbine |
6,000 Ton-Hr |
HFC 134a |
1971 |
|
7 |
Centrifugal |
Steam Turbine |
3,000 Ton-Hr |
HCFC R-22 |
1988 |
|
8 |
Centrifugal |
Steam Turbine |
4,500 Ton-Hr |
HCFC R-22 |
1994 |
|
9 |
Centrifugal |
Motor |
2,000 Ton-Hr |
HCFC 123 |
1999 |
|
10 |
Centrifugal |
Motor |
2,000 Ton-Hr |
HCFC 123 |
2000 |
|
11 |
Centrifugal |
Steam Turbine |
5,000 Ton-Hr |
HCFC 134a |
2001 |
|
S1 |
Centrifugal |
Motor |
2,000 Ton-Hr |
HCFC 123 |
2002 |
|
S2 |
Centrifugal |
Motor |
2,000 Ton-Hr |
HCFC 123 |
2002 |
|
S3 |
Centrifugal |
Motor |
2,000 Ton-Hr |
HCFC 123 |
2005 |
|
S4 |
Centrifugal |
Motor |
2,700 Ton-Hr |
HCFC 123 |
2007 |
|
S5 |
Centrifugal |
Motor |
2,700 Ton-Hr |
HCFC 123 |
2007 |