Location: Fremantle Aquatic Centre, WA
Client: City of Fremantle
Installation:
- Cogeneration & Geothermal Heating (Ground Source Heat Pump)
The Fremantle Aquatic Centre CHP and Geothermal Heating Project is a unique project that combines a Cogeneration unit with a Ground Source Heat Pump utilising a Shallow Aquifer Geothermal Bore System. This project was the first of its kind in Australia combining the two technologies and has been awarded the Splash! Environmental after being recognised for its enormous savings and environmental benefits.
Awarded the 2014 SPLASH! Environmental Award
Unique project - first of it's kind in Australia that combines both cogeneration and heat pump technology
Cogeneration system is used to offset the facility's electrical consumption and thermal energy to the centre's two pools
Cut carbon emissions by over 25%
The Fremantle project was the first of it's kind in Australia that combined cogeneration and heat pump technology. This project was recognised for its energy efficient and environmentally friendly outcomes and was awarded the 2014 Splash! Environmental Award.
The engineering firm EMC assisted in designing a combination system to replace Fremantle's costly existing gas boiler system which was providing heat to the 50m & 25m outdoor pools.
As part of a multi-million dollar renovation, a purpose-built plant room was constructed at the southern end of the property to house the CHP, heat pump, all associated pumps and the plate heat exchangers.
The Cogeneration plant provides electrical output in conjunction with a 30kW PV array. This is used to offset the facility’s electrical consumption and thermal energy to the centre’s two pools. The CHP system is scheduled to operate during peak periods, 5 days per week.
Cogeneration Plant
The CHP system is a fully integrated unit composed of a gasified Cummins engine, Leroy Somer alternator, ComAp controller and various other required pumps and heat exchangers.
The Ground Source Heat Pump utilises warm water (approx. 26°C), from the Leederville Aquifer, Fremantle to heat both of the pools. The total efficiency of the heat pump during operation is over 600%.
The production bore is located approximately 30m away from the plant room, and the injection bore is located approximately 350m to the west of the production bore. Significant monitoring and warning systems are installed as part of the project’s groundwater license. These controls are fully integrated into the ComAp BMS system.
Controls
The CHP unit was supplied with a ComAp Intelligen NT controller. This controller system was expanded to provide a full BMS system that operates the entire pool plant room including all of the heating and pumping equipment. The ComAp Intelligen NT controller has full control, monitoring and reporting capabilities system-wide. It’s also able to calculate GHG and cost savings via integrated gas and water flow meters
Electrical
Intelligent control; as part of the upgrade, the existing Submain and MSSB were removed and replaced with new purpose-built components.
