Case study: Graton Casino and Resort
Backup power design for a high-performance building is required, and offers many benefits.
Graton Casino and Resort in Rohnert Park, Calif., uses three 1,500 kW/1,875 kVA, 480 V 3-phase parallel generators as a robust emergency/optional standby system (see Figures 2, 3, and 4). The generators are located outside of the building and are equipped with pad-mounted transformers to step up the generator output voltage from 480 to 2,160 V.
Table 2: Maximum demand-load table
Maximum demand load |
Remarks |
|
Entire property |
4,392 kVA at 0.85 power factor |
Expected load |
Maximum base-load total |
4,392 kVA |
|
+ 20% contingency |
879 kVA |
For unforeseen future load growth |
Total load |
5,270 kVA or 141 amps at 21.6 kV 3-phase |
|
Source: FEA Consulting Engineers
The priority loads include:
A. Priority 1 (emergency and legally required standby power).
b. Fire sprinkler air compressors.
c. Fire alarm.
d. Egress lighting.
e. Elevator cab lighting.
f. Elevator room cooling.
g. Tower guestroom toilet exhaust.
h. Tower supply fan.
i. Tower obstruction lighting.
j. Water-treatment plant.
B. Priority 2 (business critical/optional standby power).
b. Boilers and water heaters along with associated pumps.
c. Booster pumps.
d. Air handler units.
e. Information technology cold room.
f. Surveillance cold room.
g. Telecommunication rooms.
h. Cooling for cold rooms.
i. Cooling for electrical rooms that contain optional standby equipment.
j. Slots.
k. Kitchen walk-in coolers and freezers.
l. Select lighting in BOH areas.
m. Lighting over gaming tables and at the cage.
n. Select site lighting.
o. Power for exterior cameras.
C. Priority 3 (normal power).
2. Loads include:
b. High-limit area.
c. Event center.
d. Food court and restaurants.
D. Priority 4 (normal power).
2. Loads include:
b. Event-center kitchen.
c. Pool area and spa.
Michael Villalba is a designer with FEA Consulting Engineers. He previously worked for NV5. He has 3 years of experience working on projects such as convention centers, casinos, hotels, and photovoltaic farms.
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