Central Heating Plant Modernization. A Study Done for Fort Dix, New Jersey.

Abstract : The facilities at Fort Dix, NJ include three central heating plants, one laundry steam plant, and one heat recovery incinerator facility. The age and condition of the installation's energy plants stimulated an investigation of possible alternatives to provide the installation's needed thermal energy. This report documents preliminary results of a U.S. Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories (USACERL) study to identify cost-effective technologies to meet current and future thermal and electrical energy needs at Fort Dix. The study assessed the capabilities of the thermal production plant and the economic feasibility of using two hot water distribution systems in comparison with the two steam distribution optionS that bracket the current production situation. It was concluded that large savings may be realized using the existing equipment, repaired to improve efficiency. If a new central energy infrastructure is to be built or major capital investment is needed for the current plant, low temperature hot water would be the lowest life-cycle central plant option. Due to the low thermal usage density, distributed energy alternatives should also be considered.