GENERATORS

Cross Engineers completed the design of two (2) new 150KW back-up diesel generators with a 2,000 gallon above grade fuel tank serving two (2) new and one (1) existing generator for the Seattle Corp of Engineers, at Howard Hanson Dam, Green River Water Shed, Palmer, Washington.

The project consisted of decommissioning an existing below grade diesel fuel tank, design of new utility power, reconnection to an existing 60KW generator, installation of a new permanent ground mounted 150KW diesel generator, installation of a new wheeled trailer mount, 150KW diesel generator as N+1 back-up, new leak detection monitoring equipment, double wall underground fuel piping and a new above grade 2000 gallon diesel storage tank supplying all three (3) generators.

These generators are mission critical as back-up power for pumping and monitoring equipment, stabilizing destructive water flow through the earthen dam and erosion to the face of the dam. The Howard Hanson Dam normal utility electrical service is subject to failure due to predictable (October, November) wind storms and snow every year, disrupting electrical service and denying access to the area for repairs.

At McNeil Island Corrections Center, Cross Engineers was selected to design the original diesel power plant for the Island consisting of three (3) 1000KW diesel generators with paralleling switchgear. After the original installation DOC again selected Cross Engineers to design a fourth 1250KW diesel generator and building addition for the power plant. In the event of a Tacoma City Light normal power failure, or a submarine cable failure, the diesel power plant provides back-up power through a underground/overhead primary electrical distribution system. The diesel power plant was designed to operate as McNeil Island’s primary power source for extended periods of time (months) with standard maintenance by DOC personnel. The diesel Power Plant has successfully sustained the Correctional Facility and Island through two (2) separate submarine cable failures. Cross Engineers was the prime design consultant to the DOC with Architectural, Structural and Civil Engineering firms as sub-consultants for both of these projects. The MACC for these two projects totaled $1,500,000.

At the DOC, Cedar Creek Corrections Center, Cross Engineers was tasked to provide generator capacity for a 200 man dormitory, new administration building, new warehouse/shop, and kitchen expansion. 

We suggested a similar approach as used at Larch Corrections Center of utilizing the existing primary electrical system. This approach was reviewed by DOC and not pursued due to severe budget restrictions. Our office was familiar with two of the existing three generators at Cedar Creek and the owner had a spare 150KW generator at their maintenance shop. Cross Engineers installed portable peak demand monitoring equipment at all existing electrical distribution system locations at Cedar Creek. Based on the peak amperage demand monitoring information, our design shifted the kitchen (existing and expansion) loads to the existing Cascade barracks generator, which was discovered (through demand metering) to have almost no demand load. 

This provided the back-up power capacity necessary for the kitchen expansion and will provide a spare generator capacity necessary for a future remodel of the Alpine Building. The new 200 man dormitory was powered with the owners existing 150KW generator and a surplus 500KW diesel generator from Larch Correction Center was brought to Cedar Creek. With the addition of load shedding controls as part of our design, the 500KW diesel generator now serves the new administration building, new shop/warehouse and existing DNR offices. The electrical bid package was $200,000 under the Professional Cost Estimators Cost Estimate for electrical work.

The Tacoma School District tasked Cross Engineers to design a back-up power source for their Central Administration Building. This facility is the original Tacoma Central School (3-story with full basement) and used for the Tacoma School Districts Central Data Processing and Computer Center. The school district originally installed a 150KW generator backing up only the UPS unit serving the computer center. Cross Engineers selected a 500KW diesel generator which backs up the primary distribution system for the entire facility with a 40% spare capacity for future loads. Cross Engineers was the prime design consultant to the Tacoma School District. The MACC for this project was $250,000. 

The Pierce County LESA Facility purchased a new UPS unit to expand their capacity for back-up power to vital functions in a power outage situation. During construction the electrical contractor identified a number of existing (original design) code deficiencies and limitations on the existing electrical system generator. Cross Engineers was contracted to re-design the existing electrical system to correct the original design deficiencies and increase the existing generator performance from 75% of its rated capacity to 100% rated capacity. This was accomplished by adding an automatic load shed system, providing additional make up air, and decreasing the heat load in the room while the generator was operating. 

Cross Engineers was selected as prime consultant to size, locate, specify and design installation modifications for (7) 150KW, (2) 65KW and (1) 20KW optional standby, trailer mounted diesel generators. Funding for this work was via a FEMA Grant to the Port of Olympia requiring FEMA review and compliance with Buy American Act.