What is this building and why is it important

Probably unbeknown to many city centre residents, much industry has been employed locally to preserve our world as we know it . Here we look into the hidden engineering that is now in operation.

Reducing Carbon Dioxide emissions into our atmosphere is essential for reducing global warming. Birmingham is playing its part in this through substantial and increasing efforts in the city centre.

This is being achieved by Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems.

These operate more efficiently than traditional systems by capturing the heat that is produced as a by-product of electricity generation, and normally lost to the atmosphere. This is then used to heat water and, interestingly, to also cool it by Absorption Refrigeration.

For an overview of the Birmingham CHP see the previous article Birmingham District Energy Scheme posted on this website on 22 October 2014.

The building shown above generates some of the electrical power, hot water for heating and cool water for air conditioning for the three massive buildings shown behind it – the Library of Birmingham, the International Conference Centre/Symphony Hall complex and the Hyatt Hotel. It also supplies the nearby Barclaycard Arena (previously called the NIA), the Rep Theatre and the Council House in Victoria Square as well as the now closed Paradise Forum/Central Library. The Barclaycard Arena also has its own CHP system linked to this.

The amount of Carbon Dioxide saved from polluting the atmosphere by the scheme is displayed on the outside of the building as pictured left – that’s 17,705,500 KGs!

Currently, connections are being laid in city streets to the revamped New Street Station and Grand Central shopping centre there. The connections will be continued to existing CHP systems in the Children’s Hospital and Aston University.

There is also a connection to the National Grid supplying any electricity generated that is surplus to local requirements.

I recently was fortunate to have a tour of the CHP systems in the ICC building above and also of the CHP in the Library of Birmingham. This was arranged by David Martin of Cofely who accompanied the tour guided by Electrical Operations Engineer Dave McCombie who is a key person in the running of the ICC Building.

If you like to view modern engineering achievement and its application to energy and world climate conservation read on for a gallery of photos taken on the tour.

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Below are galleries of the workings of the Broad Street CHP building and the Library of Birmingham.

Having photographed the machines I now find it difficult to recall what process each one shown below carries out. However, there are generator engines, refrigeration units, heat exchangers and many pumps.

To view photos:
1. Display an enlarged gallery – Left Click on an image – use the large side arrows to move between images – Left Click outside an image or press ESC to close the enlarged gallery.
Or…
2. View a larger version of a single image in a separate page – Right Click on the image then Left Click on “Open link in new tab” or “Open link in new window”.

Broad Street CHP Building behind the ICC…

 

Dave McCombie keeping his eye on the processes in the control room.

Computer screens with graphic representations of the flow of energy.

This is the electricity generator – run on natural gas and generating 1.6MW.

Computer graphics give an overview of how the engine is operating.

Another graphics panel showing the temperatures.

Various pumps, etc.

Pipes delivering hot and cold water and cables delivering electricity to connected buildings.

Panel stores historical statistics on chilled water supplied.

Display panel stores history of power supplied to the ICC.

 

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Library of Birmingham basement boiler room…

Large boilers in basement.

Boiler monitor panels.

A heat exchanger exposed – water source on the left in/out – output to Library on the right in/out.

Heat exchangers in use – output pipes go through the wall to the Library halls and rooms.

Geoff Caine