Operations
TECO's energy professionals – skilled technicians and engineers with years of experience – operate and maintain its two district energy plants on the Texas Medical Center campus in Houston, Texas.
TECO operates in extremely hot and humid conditions with an average 3,510 annual cooling degree-days. Its Central Plant (the Paul G. Bell, Jr. Energy Plant) and South Main Plant house a total of 120,170 tons chilled-water capacity and 980,000 lb/hr steam capacity. The two interconnected sites have 27 chillers and nine boilers. TECO’s distribution system has 35+ miles (7.7 trench miles) of piping ranging in size from 6 to 60 inches in diameter. (See detailed system metrics below.)
TECO’s Central Plant was expanded between 2007 and 2011 and features a 48 MW combined heat and power system and an 8.8 million-gallon thermal storage tank.
TECO also remotely operates a customer-owned energy plant for The University of Texas Health Science Center on TMC’s South Campus.
System Metrics
| Through August 31, 2022 | Chilled Water | Steam |
|---|---|---|
CUSTOMERS |
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| Number of customers | 17 | 15 |
| Number of buildings served | 51 | 37 |
| Square feet served | 25.42 million | 20.6 million |
ENERGY SOURCES |
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Paul G. Bell, Jr. Energy Plant – Central Plant |
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| Number of boilers, chillers/fuels | 14 chillers electricity & natural gas |
7 boilers natural gas & diesel |
| Thermal storage tank | 8.8 million-gallon chilled-water storage tank | n/a |
South Main Plant |
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| Number of boilers, chillers/fuels | 13 chillers/electricity | 2 boilers/natural gas & diesel |
OPERATIONS/DISTRIBUTION |
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| Capacity | 120,170 tons (including thermal storage) | 980,000 lb/hr (with heat-recovery steam generator & duct firing) |
| Supply temperature | 40°-43° F | 450° F |
| Supply pressure | 55-90 psi | 400 psi plant, 250 psi distribution |
| Return temperature | 52°-55° F | 150° F |
| Water volume in system | 12.4 million gallons | n/a |
| Steam pressure | n/a | 400 psi |
| Piping type | Welded steel coated with coal/tar epoxy | Welded steel, Schedule 40 with insulation |
| Piping diameter | 6 to 60 inches | 2 to 16 inches |
| Piping distribution trench length | 7.7 miles | 7.7 miles (portions of the line have three pipes) |
POWER |
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Paul G. Bell, Jr. Energy Plant – Central PlantCombined heat and power system 48 MWStandby generation 14 MW |
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South Main PlantStandby generation 2 MW |
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