| Profile: Lake Forest Hospital |
Lake Forest Hospital, after considering cogeneration for many years, recently reached an agreement with LaSalle Associates for a turnkey installation. LaSalle provided the original feasibility study in June of 1992. The delay in proceeding with the system can be partially attributed to legal issues. Attorneys for the hospital are trying to resolve issues regarding the hospital's right to generate electricity for all the buildings on the campus. Several buildings are leased from the hospital by separately owned entities. Commonwealth Edison objects to the hospital's desire to feed the entire campus. During the four years the hospital was considering cogeneration, Edison made several attempts to discredit the anticipated savings. They were never successful in convincing the administration. It is also interesting to note that Edison apparently never offered the hospital a reduced rate.
The hospital will use its own funds to finance the new facility in anticipation of a 3.7 year simple payback. Four Caterpillar 800 kw 3516 natural gas engines will generate enough electricity to carry the entire campus 99% of the time and will run during on-peak hours (9 am to 10 pm weekdays). Exhaust from all engines will be routed through Maxim heat recovery silencers. A steam separator will provide an average of 2,400 lb/hr steam at 65 psi.
The new cogeneration system will be housed in a new 2,500 square foot attached building constructed adjacent to the existing power plant. Special attention was given to the design of the new addition in order to satisfy the unusually stringent requirements of the city building review committee. Ground breaking for the new structure will occur sometime in March. LaSalle Associates, Glen Ellen, Illinois, is the design build contractor.