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Energy Efficiency Central Plant Operations at Sandia
National Laboratories MESA Project
Ralph Wrons, Sandia National
Laboratories
Sandia National Laboratories, New Mexico, site set aggressive performance
metrics for the design of the large central plant intended to serve
its MESA (Microsystems and Engineering Sciences Application) Microfab
and Microlab research buildings. This included 0.55 kW/ton chilled
water system efficiency. The presentation will cover the original
performance metrics in the design criteria, the importance of the
low temperature and medium temperature chilled water loop, design
challenges, commissioning challenges, the components of the system
(e.g., variable speed chillers, plate-frame heat exchanger, variable
speed pumping), and the metering to validate the original performance
expectations).
The design concept of a dual loop low temperature
and medium temperature chilled water plant was investigated prior
to the project—in an audit of a similar operating system and
during an energy programming workshop with Labs21 team engineers
involved. This differentiation was critical to achieving the high
system efficiency (low kW/ton) goal established in the design criteria.
Commissioning of the central plant was essential to assure that
the design intent had been met, but optimization by the Systems
Engineer and Controls technician(s) after operations began was also
necessary to achieve the intended system performance. The objectives
of the presentation are to show the value of setting performance
metrics for an advance energy efficiency design, the challenges
of implementation, and the data from actual operations to validate
the original efficiency targets.
Labs21 Connection:
As a pilot partner, Sandia tried to follow many of the principles
of the Labs21 approach for the MESA project. This included setting
goals and performance metrics to guide the design, and employing
building systems commissioning to assure that energy and water efficiency
targets were met. The presentation intends to show that a combination
of innovative design criteria, hard work at commissioning and implementation
and ongoing optimization are necessary to achieve advanced energy
efficiency and Labs21 goals. Also important is the extensive metering
and reporting to prove results and/or provide feedback to tweak
system performance. This presentation is intended to show the benefit
of the Labs21 approach and provide lessons learned and feedback
to the design process.
Biography:
Ralph Wrons has worked at Sandia National Laboratories in
New Mexico for 16 years. He recently joined the Pollution Prevention
Program as team coordinator. During his seven year tenure as the
Facilities Energy Manager, he convinced management to make Sandia
a Labs21 Pilot Partner and use the Labs21 Approach in the design
of the $420 million, 377,000 sq. ft. MESA project. He has participated
at the Labs21 national conference since 1999, including a presentation
in 2002 on the design status of MESA. Ralph has a B.S. in Energy
Engineering from the University of Arizona and earned his P.E. license
in New Mexico in 1997.
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