The fully integrated trigeneration system and standby power solution at the Royal Children’s Hospital incorporates two 1,160 kilowatt (kW) Cummins C1160N 5C (QSK60) lean-burn gas generator sets, and three 2,250 kilovolt-ampere C2250 D5 (QSK60) diesel generator sets, controlled by two digital master controllers, one each for the gas and diesel generators.

Each of the two lean-burn gas senator sets of the trigeneration system, which simultaneously produce electricity, heating and cooling, operate for around 6,000 hours a year during peak demand.

Heat recovered from the gas engines’ exhaust is converted via a broad absorption chiller to chill water for air conditioning and other uses at the new hospital.

Business Development Manager for Cummins Power Generation, David Eccleston says: “The trigeneration plant will provide base load power around the clock, reducing the hospital’s dependency on the grid, and thus reduce electricity costs. This system alone will reduce the hospital’s carbon dioxide emissions by around 20 per cent.”

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In addition, Cummins supports the standby power system at the hospital with the three diesel generator sets that synchronise with the gas generators and load share in the event of a black out.

Cummins and its contractors also installed the complete noise and engine exhaust attenuation system for the diesel standby generators.

Cummins worked closely with principal electrical services contractor PSG Elecraft and mechanical services contractor RACAH – a joint venture between AG Coombs and AE Smith – on the installation and integration of the gas generators with the diesel units.

While the hospital officially opened in late-2011, the trigeneration plant and standby power system were commissioned at the end of 2010.