Modular Utility Solution by Systecon

HVAC & Thermal Systems

Business Case

Modular Utility Solution by Systecon

Project story

New capacity using modular solution for Austin Energy

Key facts

Project figures

- 20M sq ft of district cooling area
- 54,720 ton cooling capacity
- 70 customers connected

Introduction

Austin Energy, the community-owned utility company that services downtown Austin needed to quickly expand their district cooling capacity to meet the increased demand for chilled water services in response to the area's rapid growth.

Systecon, an EQUANS company, took the owner’s design criteria and developed a chilled water utility solution to cool and support buildings in downtown Austin.

Challenges

With a lack of real estate, the customer needed a fast solution without new site development. Additional challenges included optimizing electrical distribution, as well as minimizing noise and vibration generated by the plant.

To avoid new site development, Austin Energy chose to install the new plant on the roof of the Austin Convention Center.

Solution

Under a fast-track design-build delivery, Systecon designed and fabricated a modular 3,000-ton capacity cooling plant to supplement the city loop that Austin Energy owns and operates. The plant includes chillers, condenser water system, cooling towers, pumps, and all associated power distribution and controls.

District Cooling Plant #4 is an additional chilled water production that will work in conjunction with existing DCP1, DCP2, and DCP3.

The plant was shipped in 8 modules and installed in a matter of days, as opposed to months had it been built onsite.

Results

The modular chiller plant provides operational flexibility, additional chilled water production capacity, and optimization of the district cooling system for maximum efficiency.