Quick-Change Artists: Fuel switching at Hartford Steam

摘要

The weather front had been develop- ing all week. Extreme low tempera- tures from the north combined with moist air from the south were on a collision course for New England. Gas deliveries to interruptible customers had already been curtailed ― would the impending snow blast make oil deliveries impossible? Faced with such uncertainties, a district energy system can best ensure reliable service if it has the ability to use alternate fuels. That is, in fact, a capability possessed by The Hartford Steam Co. (HSC). The company provides district heating and cooling services to approximately 16 million sq ft of commercial office and mixed-use space in Hartford, Conn. ― a city averaging 3,500 heating-and 2,000 cooling-degree days annually (based on 55 degrees F outside-air design base). HSC's district energy system is fed from multiple plants that generate steam, chilled water, hot water and electricity.