POWER SECURITY DELIVERED FOR NORTHAMPTON GENERAL HOSPITAL THANKS TO WB POWER

Power You Can Trust

POWER SECURITY DELIVERED FOR NORTHAMPTON GENERAL HOSPITAL THANKS TO WB POWER

Critical power specialists, WB Power Services (WBPS) has created a long-term standby power solution for Northampton General Hospital, which will provide lifesaving power in the worst-case scenario of a power failure for its main operating site.

The NHS spends around £600 million per year on energy, spanning day to day running costs to critical care units. Power issues for any healthcare unit would create problems, but for hospitals providing often lifesaving support 365 days per year, there must be an absolute guarantee of power.

Northampton General Hospital is no exception, delivering acute services for a population of 380,000, with the Trust facilitating other services to a population of 880,000 who live in Northamptonshire and parts of Buckinghamshire.

The bespoke project, with was designed and rolled out by WBPS, comprised of the installation of six prime rated generator sets, a fuel management solution, equipment removal and refurbishment and the installation of a plant room. As a healthcare facility, there also needed to be significant noise control, so the scheme also included control systems for ease of management and maintenance.

The diverse installation was delivered in three clear phases, spanning the supply, installation and commissioning of three Kohler generating sets; the second phase saw the removal of two existing generating sets, with the final phase focusing on additional generator set installation, equipment removal, civil works and generator installation.

Phase One

The project began with the supply, installation and commissioning of three Kohler-SDMO T2500 2500kVA Mitsubishi prime rated generating sets complete with set to set and mains synchronising DSE control panels, placed in an existing plant room.

Ahead of the installation, the existing generators and accompanying ancillary equipment was removed. Other works included:

  • Stripping down internal canopies of existing generator sets
  • Civil works on an external landing area
  • The dismantling of existing exhaust flues
  • Draining down and cutting up 2x 20,000L fuel tanks
  • The removal of external exhausts

Once all existing generators and ancillary equipment had been removed, modifications had to be made to the existing plant room to allow for the installation of an additional generator. This was followed by the installation of the following equipment:

  • Acoustic plantroom equipment (65DBA @1M)
  • Three Kohler-SDMO T2500 2500KVA Mitsubishi generators with accompanying bunded slab fuel tanks
  • Bespoke pipework and flue systems
  • Remote radiators place on the roof

Healthcare facilities need to adhere to strict sound levels, which the newly installed generating sets had to meet. To achieve this, WBPS supplied and installed exhaust gas silencers to achieve a sound level of 75 dBA @1m. The flues were extended to roof level to the existing flue route.

Phase Two

This phase comprised the removal of two existing Perkins generator sets, before being transported back to WBPS’s Ilkeston testing facility to be refurbished. Works included:

  • Alternator replacement on generator one utilising OEM spare parts
  • Re-installation of generators in new acoustic housing
  • Full-service load testing and proving
  • Civil works including concrete base and compound construction
  • New 200-hour base tanks installed with transfer system

Phase Three

The final phase of the project was the supply, installation and commissioning of three Kohler-SDMO T1250 2500kVA Mitsubishi prime rated generating sets. Coming with set to set and mains COMAP synchronising control panels, the units were installed within a plant room located on the hospital site. Before installation, the existing generators and accompanying ancillary equipment was removed, with further work comprising:

  • Drain down existing bulk tank and dispose of fuel tanks
  • Isolate and remove existing generators and switchboards
  • Remove gensets, exhausts, outlet attenuators, SWB and a fuel tank from the site
  • Complete required civil works, extending the onsite outlets

Modifications had to be made to the existing layout of the plant room to allow for the installation of an additional generator, to join the existing two. Installed equipment in the plant room included:

  • Acoustic plant room equipment (750BA @1M)
  • Three Kohler-SMDO T1250 1250KVA prime rated Mitsubishi generators with accompanying bunded slab fuel tanks
  • Bespoke pipework and flue systems
  • Installation of new switchgear
  • Installation of new 200 hours bulk tank with transfer system

Comments WBPS Managing Director, Andy Wilmott: “The successful installation of the new generator sets and supporting equipment will ensure that Northampton General Hospital can continue to deliver seamless care in the event of a power failure. Our team also provided formal onsite training to the hospital’s engineers as part of the overall project delivery, helping its team maintain and manage the installation without external support. “Not only was the installation a success, the WBPS project team delivered the complete solution on time and to budget.”

Following the completion of the installation, the sets were commissioned utilising a restrictive load bank test. This was conducted by WBPS’s in-house commissioning team, with further tests being conducted over a 10-day period.

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