AnMed Health Medical Center
Electrical Infrastructure Rebuild

• Location:
  Anderson, SC
• Size:
  Normal & Emergency power rebuild exceeding 6 Megawatts
• Construction Cost:
  $20,000,000
• Status:
  Completed 2009

PerryCrabb Key Personnel:

• Mechanical: Jim Crabb, PE
• Electrical: Peter Andersen, PE

Owner Reference:

Winner of 2011 American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE) Vista Award in Infrastructure

Challenge

A 1940s-era hospital facility, with numerous additions over the decades, had outdated normal and essential power systems and lacked the required three branches of essential power. The old generators were barely able to meet the essential demand with all engines running; no margin for error dictated a manual load-shedding plan for generator failure. The hospital was poised for major renovations, touching most of the building, and a new 3-branch essential power system was needed in all the renovated areas. Additionally, power reliability concerns dictated an N+1 design for the essential system to carry the entire hospital, including chillers, on generator power.

Solution

Working with architect and owner, PerryCrabb developed a plan to serve the existing power needs, anticipated needs resulting from the renovations and future needs for the 10-year master plan. An expansion of the Central Plant houses three new standby 2MW diesel generators, paralleling gear and transfer switches, as well as new main-tie-main normal power switchgear. Both normal and essential power are distributed at 4160v to unit substations located strategically within the hospital. New electrical rooms were created for the substations. Two stacked electrical rooms on each floor created two new risers, each designed to serve normal and essential power to both existing and renovated areas. PerryCrabb designed the system to carry the entire facility on generator power, transferring to and from utility service using closed-transition switches that eliminate disruption for testing or anticipatory transfer. Eventually, load increases will dictate a fourth generator in order to maintain N+1 redundancy, but the system is designed for easy expansion without interrupting service.

Results

During a “lights-out” test, the new essential power system performed flawlessly, picking up emergency loads within 10-seconds, with normal power loads following quickly. The hospital has also transferred to generator power as storms develop in the area, so that the patients and staff do not see even a flicker while thunderstorms rage. Electrical power has gone from a source of concern for maintenance and administration to a solid asset to the community and its healthcare system.

PerryCrabb, Inc. was pleased to be a co-recipient of this year’s prestigious American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE) Vista Award in Infrastructure for this project. This award is presented to an organization or group that has modified or replaced major portions of a facility’s utility generation, distribution or control systems and involves significant planning.