| Profile: South Suburban Hospital |
South Suburban Hospital, Hazel Crest, Illinois has recently signed contracts for the construction of a 1050 kw generation system. The new cogeneration system will supplement the existing 900 kw cogeneration system which was installed by Northern Illinois Gas as a total energy plant in 1971. The cogeneration system is comprised of (1) one Waukesha 7100 GSI 1050 kw natural-gas engine-generator set supplied by Charles Equipment Company, Addison, Illinois. The cogeneration system will operate during Commonwealth Edison's (ComEd) peak demand periods (9:00am-6:00pm Monday-Friday). The cogeneration system will operate parallel with the electric utility under ComEd's interconnection requirements. Backup power for the cogeneration system is purchased under ComEd's Rate 18. The cogeneration system in addition with the hospital's existing standby diesel engine-generator sets will provide 100% standby power to the site to help protect against utility power outages. The switch gear and generator controls are being manufactured by Electric Controls of Peoria, Illinois. The cogeneration system utilizes engine jacket waste heat recovery to preheat the hospital's boiler feed water. In addition, the project will also include a new 580 ton York direct fired natural gas chiller. The cogeneration system is being installed as part of an overall site expansion and renovation project. NICOR Energy Solutions, Naperville, Illinois is the project developer.