We've completed the new standby power solution for the historic University of Sheffield, a Russell Group University in South Yorkshire.

DTGen supplied and installed the 3 MVA at 11 KV generator in a bespoke, 65dba, container with remote cooling package, 45,000 litre bulk fuel tank and management system. The tailored installation has penthouse airways for the inlet and outlet airflow attenuators. 

The team also developed a ComAp HV control system using fibre optic communications to control the 27 high-voltage vacuum breakers around the existing HV network throughout the campus. This modular control package was achieved using various outstations and panels networked to control the switching, monitoring and connection of the load throughout a number of buildings during any mains power outage.   

Located in the new university’s energy centre built by Vital Energy, the system has been designed so that with high load demand during a prolonged outage the 3 MVA generator can operate in parallel with the 2MW CHP unit. This provides the university with an even greater level of power resilience. With both the generator and CHP under control of the ComAp system, the facility is also capable of seamless transfer back to the utility incomer supply with G-99 protection. 

The system is also designed to ensure that the generator can be tested on the energy centre load with automatic front and back synchronisation and network configuration ensuring minimum disruption to the university power network. 

Kenny Berrie, Head of Technical at DTGen, said: “We’ve been delivering robust backup power solutions to universities and educational facilities throughout the UK for more than 50 years. Our power solutions team is technically expert – dealing with a wide range of installations in many historic and unusual locations as well as new builds. Whilst this installation is very unusual and difficult to achieve successfully, it demonstrates our experience of large power systems and complex controls.”

We work with many of the UK’s leading higher education establishments including the Universities of Strathclyde, Dundee, Aberdeen, St Andrews, Liverpool and Newcastle, and have built up a strong reputation as a partner in this sector. From new system design and installation to regular servicing, control panel upgrades and staff training, we offer full lifecycle support to these organisations.

To find out more about power solutions from DTGen, please visit www.dtgen.co.uk/power-solutions/