2.10 Utilities Element
Data and Analysis
2005-2015 Campus Master Plan Update
a) A facility capacity analysis, by geographic service area, indicating capacity surpluses and deficiencies for:
a. Existing conditions, based on the facility design capacity and the current demand on facility capacity; and
The existing plant capacity appears to be nearly fully loaded with the addition of new buildings onto the chilled water loop. At best, a single spare chiller’s capacity may be available at this time. The 1999 chilled water analysis performed for UCF indicated a potential existing load of approximately 7,740 Tons (assuming campus-wide 90% diversity of full-load values). The total plant capacity, including the satellite plant, is 8,250 Tons.
2. The end of the planning time frame, based on the projected demand at current level of service standards for the facility, projected student populations and land use distributions, and any available existing surplus facility capacity.
Though specific space planning cannot be evaluated at this time, it is apparent that the addition of the second 2000 Ton chiller in the Satellite Plant will be needed in this planning period.
Future space additions on the North side of the 1200 foot radius sidewalk and the Arena could be served by new chilled water equipment in this area and could serve the existing loop through the 10” chilled water lines which connect the existing Arena to the campus chilled water loop.
The density of new facilities to the south should also promote the concept of a chilled water plant in that area.
The decision on installation of new chilled water plant(s) should be made with consideration to the size of the new buildings and the timeframe in which they will be built. Though chilled water plants impose additional first costs, the life cycle cost is frequently lower for academic buildings.
The design of the new plants should include analysis of potential opportunities to take advantage of deregulation. It may be attractive to consider gas-driven chillers, cogeneration, waste heat recovery or other technologies in the design and construction of those facilities.
Tie-in to the existing plant loop should be considered if either of these plants is installed.
b. The general performance of existing steam and chilled water facilities, evaluating the adequacy of the current level of service provided by the facility, the general condition and expected life of the facility, and the impact of the facility upon adjacent natural resources.
The campus does not utilize steam or hot water distribution. The chilled water system appears to offer quite reliable service to existing facilities. The control system could be improved to allow better manipulation of chiller operation and pumping. The control system upgrades would also allow for efficient tracking of campus chilled water loads. The bulk of the chilled water equipment should serve throughout this planning period.
c. An assessment of opportunities or available and practical technologies to reduce University energy consumption. Investigation of emerging technologies to address this issue is encouraged.
The greatest single opportunity for improvement is the increased use of digital controls for plant optimization. This could streamline operation and maintenance of the plant systems, which has the opportunity for reduced energy consumption and improved information feedback to plant operations personnel.
Another opportunity to improve the planning and construction process involves creation and maintenance of an electronic database of building loads (design and operation). This database can be maintained as additional buildings enter the programming, design and operation phases and would aid the University in planning chilled water plant expansions in the future.
a) A facility capacity analysis, by geographic service area, indicating capacity surpluses and deficiencies for:
1. Existing conditions, based on the facility design capacity and the current demand on facility capacity:
Florida Power Corporation currently serves the majority of the campus via an underground loop system originating in the substation located at the south entrance of the campus.
Only a few buildings located on the north-west side of the campus (Lake Claire apartments and the fraternity/sorority houses) are not on this loop system, and are fed from the existing overhead distribution lines that FPC owns along Alafaya Trail (SR 434).
FPC also owns a substation towards the northeast side of Campus on North Orion Blvd. and McCulloch Rd. This substation currently does not serve any UCF property but has been preliminary identified by FPC to serve, if necessary, any future developments in the northeast side of campus, where the Arena is located.
2. The end of the planning time frame, based on the projected demand at current level of service standards for the facility, projected student populations and land use distributions, and any available existing surplus facility capacity:
Specific electrical demand information is not known for any of the new facilities, but the existing FPC south substation and underground feeders should be capable of providing the future demands of any building planned within the boundaries of the 1,200 foot radius. Coordination with Florida Power Corporation will be necessary to verify capacity and distribution methodology.
b) The general performance of existing electrical power and other fuel facilities, evaluating the adequacy of the current level of service provided by the facility, the general condition and expected life of the facility, and the impact of the facility upon adjacent natural resources.
The current Florida Power Corporation service appears to be performing well. No limitations on expected equipment life are known at this time.
c) An assessment of opportunities or available and practical technologies to reduce University energy consumption. Investigation of emerging technologies to address this issue is encouraged.
The University has been proactive in their approach to energy efficiency through lighting efficiency, occupancy sensors and remote capability for classroom lighting control in new facilities. Existing facilities are being retrofitted as quickly as possible. One new technology that is being used at the University is dimmable fluorescent lighting. This technology dramatically reduces the energy use in classrooms and eliminates lighting fixtures.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS SUB-ELEMENT
a) A facility capacity analysis, by geographic service area, indicating capacity surpluses and deficiencies for:
1. Existing conditions, based on the facility design capacity and the current demand on facility capacity:
The telecommunications infrastructure consists of an underground network of duct banks and Telecom Utility Vaults (TUVs) interconnecting the majority of the buildings on campus as well as the satellites hubs or nodes.
The main copper telephone trunk originates from existing Siemens telephone switches located in the Library Building and other buildings to all the existing and new facilities. The data systems are connected to the Computer Science Building (CSB) via fiber optics cable.
2. The end of the planning time frame, based on the projected demand at current level of service standards for the facility, projected student populations and land use distributions, and any available existing surplus facility capacity:
As the campus continues to grow the demand for additional copper lines and fiber optic cables will rise, and the need for additional Copper and fiber nodes throughout campus will have to be reviewed with the TeleData Services Department. Also as technology keeps constantly changing the need to review standards increases in the same fashion.
b) The general performance of existing telecommunications systems and facilities, evaluating the adequacy of the current level of service provided by the facility, the general condition and expected life of the facility, and the impact of the facility upon adjacent natural resources:
The level of service provided by the telecommunications appears to be quite high. This is a great accomplishment considering the rapid changes in this field.
c) An assessment of potential electromagnetic hazards resulting from facilities required to meet future telecommunications needs of the University, and an analysis of practical ways to mitigate such hazards:
No hazards are known at this time.