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A Boiler Room in a 600-Bed Hospital Complex: Study, Analysis, and Implementation of Energy Efficiency Improvements

Author

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  • Juan-Carlos Fraile

    (Institute of Advanced Production Technologies, School of Industrial Engineering, University of Valladolid, C/Paseo del Cauce 59, 47011 Valladolid, Spain)

  • Julio San-José

    (Department of Energy Engineering and Fluid Mechanics, School of Industrial Engineering, University of Valladolid, C/Paseo del Cauce 59, 47011 Valladolid, Spain)

  • Ana González-Alonso

    (Department of Energy Engineering and Fluid Mechanics, School of Industrial Engineering, University of Valladolid, C/Paseo del Cauce 59, 47011 Valladolid, Spain)

Abstract

The aim of energy efficiency is to use less energy to provide the same service. In hospitals, energy efficiency offers a powerful and cost-effective tool to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, fuel consumption, and also running costs. Over a six-month period, the six gas-fired boilers that provide both a hospital’s heat and hot water were monitored. Analysis of the data obtained led to several actions being implemented in the hospital boiler room control system to improve the efficiency of the heat production system. Comparative studies were conducted, during similar weather periods, of the performance of the hospital’s hot water production system before and after the controls were implemented. Results indicate that the control actions applied proved to be effective. Finally; the paper offers a financial; primary energy saving and CO 2 reduction analysis that points to a 3,434.00 €/week savings in natural gas consumption; and a cut in CO 2 emissions of 20.3 tons/week; as compared to the reference facility.

Suggested Citation

  • Juan-Carlos Fraile & Julio San-José & Ana González-Alonso, 2014. "A Boiler Room in a 600-Bed Hospital Complex: Study, Analysis, and Implementation of Energy Efficiency Improvements," Energies, MDPI, vol. 7(5), pages 1-22, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:7:y:2014:i:5:p:3282-3303:d:36218
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Justo Garcia-Sanz-Calcedo & Fernando Lopez-Rodriguez & Talal Yusaf & Awf Al-Kassir, 2017. "Analysis of the Average Annual Consumption of Water in the Hospitals of Extremadura (Spain)," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-10, April.

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