Title
Main Pump Station - Engine-Generator Replacement - Proposal Award for Professional Engineering Services
History
The Main Pump Station has a natural gas 550KW backup generator for standby electrical power in case the station loses its ComEd feed. On January 26, 2009, during a normal test operation, the generator experienced a catastrophic failure of the cooling system causing the engine to seize and shutdown under emergency conditions. Charles Equipment Co. of Addison, Illinois, is the Midwest distributor for Waukesha Engines and they are specialists in repairs of engine power systems. This generator/engine assembly is the original equipment that was built when the station was constructed in 1985. The estimated cost to completely overhaul the generator and engine with a one and half year warranty is $110,000. Charles Equipment has recommended trading in the gas fired unit for a new 750KW diesel fueled unit that would cost an estimated $139,235.10.
The main concern of staff is to have independent, reliable, redundant electrical service to maintain water pressure during a total electrical outage. In order to accomplish this, it is necessary to ensure that all of our loading requirements, both electrical and physical, are met. Since 1985, Greeley and Hansen LLC (G&H) of Chicago, Illinois, has been the consultant of record for the construction, pump upgrades and reservoir additions of the Main Pump Station and are the most familiar with our operations. At our request, G&H has submitted a proposal of $10,000 to provide professional engineering services to determine the generator set capacity, structural review, fuel storage requirements, electrical arrangements, instrumentation and controls, engine cooling system requirements, engine room ventilation, engine exhaust arrangements and code review.
On March 9, 2009, this item was reviewed and approved by the Public Works and Engineering Committee and referred to the Board for approval.
Financial Impac...
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