Less critical loads such as auxiliary buildings and outdoor lighting can benefit from backup power from reliable natural gas infrastructure in addition to improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon footprint and utility expenses. Resiliency is being provided at the VAAHS by a combined heat and power (CHP) system anchored by a Capstone Turbine C1000. 

The Capstone C1000 is expandable and can be paralleled up to 10MW of power. The system provides a net heat rate LHV of 10.9MJ/kWh (10,300BTU/kWh); exhaust temperature of 280ºC (535ºF), and exhaust gas flow of 6.7kg/s(14.7lbm/s). 

The Ann Arbor system runs on natural gas and its nominal full power performance at ISO conditions is 59˚F,14.696psia, and 60% RH. The system delivers electricity and steam to the 1.1-million-square-foot Ann Arbor VA facility using clean-burning natural gas supplied by the local utility. Its integrated recovery steam generator provides more than 2,258 pounds of steam per hour at 75PSIG. 

The Capstone C1000 operates 24/7 in parallel with the local electric utility, reducing the hospital’s electric bill. In a power outage, the system works with the hospital’s legacy emergency diesel generators to power less critical loads.