STV was commissioned to design a new central chiller plant and campus-wide chilled water distribution system for the U.S. Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, allowing the campus to move away from individual chillers serving individual buildings. This effort was integrated with the campus’s existing modern steam plant, which provides heat to campus buildings and generates electricity through steam turbines.
As part of the project, STV conducted a feasibility study to evaluate the potential for central steam turbine-driven chillers to distribute chilled water across campus. A utility gap study considered the current chilled water load and future expansion requirements.
Initially, a 1,000-ton steam turbine-driven chiller was designed and installed inside the campus power plant, with the chiller room planned to accommodate future capacity expansion. Additionally, a small electrical chiller was planned to provide cooling capacity during winter months.
STV also designed a new distribution system with the capacity to accommodate both current and projected campus loads, with valving to connect new buildings as needed. To further enhance efficiency, a hydronic economizer system was installed, leveraging cooling tower water to provide free cooling during winter months. New oversized cooling towers support this function while also providing heat rejection for chiller condenser water.
