Renewable Energy
Co-generation plant powers ski resort
A remote ski resort is relying on an energy-efficient combined heat and power solution to deliver world-class hospitality. Amelia Poparad reports.
L
ocated in the heart of the Wasatch-Cache National Forest about 40 kilometres from downtown Salt Lake City, the Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort has attracted skiers from around the world for nearly four
decades with its scenic views, close proximity to a major international airport, and ideal skiing conditions that often last more than six months out of the year. World-class skiing demands world-class hospitality, and the centrepiece at Snowbird is the Cliff Lodge & Spa, which features 562 luxury guest rooms, three restaurants, two lounges and more than 4600 square metres of conference space. When owners began planning the construction of the Cliff Lodge & Spa in the mid-1980s, it became readily apparent that the 25 000 Volt power line running 13 kilometres up Little Cottonwood Canyon would not supply enough energy for all of the facility’s needs. Resort owners elected to construct a co-generation utility plant powered by three Cat G399 gas engines, each connected to a 650kW generator for prime
power. Te generator sets are used in conjunction with a combined heat and power (CHP) solution that maximises the use of available energy produced by the engines. Heat is recovered from exhaust gas, engine jacket cooling water, lube oil cooling water and turbocharger cooling water to produce steam or hot water for a variety of uses. In general, CHP allows users to achieve total energy system efficiencies of 70 to 80 per cent, resulting in lower fuel consumption and reduced emissions compared with processes that generate heat and power separately.
Te high-altitude location of the co-generation
plant at Snowbird presents challenges wherever water is heated by the engine. Normally, jacket water does not flash to steam until it passes through the exchanger and manifolds into the riser. At high elevations, the boil rate of water inside the jacket is lowered, making it easier for steam bubbles to form and increasing the likelihood of cavitation erosion. To address this issue, Snowbird technicians installed
Fig. 1. The 562-room Cliff Lodge & Spa at Snowbird uses heat and electricity from a combined heat and power (CHP) solution driven by Cat gas generator sets.
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