University of Nebraska Kearney
Central Utilities Plant &
Campus Wide Distribution System

Project Statistics

Scheduled Completion Date: July 2009

Construction Method: BID

Architect / Engineer

Leo Daly

Major Program Spaces

§  Mechanical construction of the new Central Utilities Plant(17,000 Sq Ft)

§  Complete Hydronic Distribution for the campus

Project Description

The east and west campus areas of the University of Nebraska at Kearney were served by a central heating system originating from two plants, one constructed in the 1930s. Both plants housed boilers and one contained a chiller. The majority of the steam piping was routed through walk-through tunnels. Chilled water piping was routed through walk-through tunnels and was also direct buried. The new central plant houses 4-boilers and 2-chillers. The purpose of the project was to expand and enhance the central system to provide additional capacity and reliability. Some existing tunnels were replaced & more tunnels were added to distribute the Hydronic Piping throughout the campus. The new campus distribution piping was either routed through the existing/new tunnels or was direct buried. The new distribution system was installed alongside the old system in these tunnels as to facilitate little downtime or disruption to the campus.

System Components

§  2 - 900 hp Superior Super Seminole 3-pass wetback boilers

§  1 - 600 hp Superior Super Seminole 3-pass wetback boiler

§  1 – Precision HVJ electrode boiler 9,900 Pounds Per Hour

§  1- BFS Tray Deaerator & Surge Tank

§  2 - 1332 ton York centrifugal liquid chillers

§  4 – Tower Tech Modular Fiberglass Cooling Towers

§  1- Puroflux Sand Filter, 475 gpm, 1425 gal capacity

§  5,000 Lin. Ft of Campus distribution Piping

Project Responsibilities

• Steam & Condensate Piping
• Boiler Feed-water Piping
• Hot water heat Piping
• Chilled Water Piping
• Condenser Water Piping
• Chemical Treatment
• Domestic Water Piping
• Roof Drain Piping
• Insulation
• Waste and Vent Piping 
• Sheetmetal/ Air Distribution
• Balancing
• Temperature Controls
• All Equipment Setting