University of Calgary CHCP Energy Efficiency Upgrades

The University of Calgary undertook a campus-wide program to reduce energy consumption. The work of this project included measures specific to the Central Heating and Cooling Plant’s (CHCP’s) cooling water system including the Bow River Pump Station.

The cooling water system provides water from the Bow River to the CHCP where it is used for cooling of a circulating chilled water loop.  The chilled water is cooled via four refrigeration chillers. In the winter and shoulder seasons, cooling water is passed through a plate heat exchanger as a free cooling device or ‘free chiller’.  The Bow River water supply system is also used for cooling of a co-generation turbine and supply to the irrigation system.

Water Street Engineering Ltd. (WSE) was engaged as a sub-consultant by SES Consulting to develop energy efficiency concepts for implementation at the CHCP. WSE subsequently completed detailed design of the piping and instrumentation changes to implement the measures.  WSE also issued control narratives for the programming changes required.