Deep beneath our feet lies a hidden world. It powers the very air we breathe on this campus. We’re standing before Central Chilling Station No. 3. Or CS3 as it’s known around the University of Texas.
This isn’t just another building. It’s a crucial part of the university’s infrastructure. CS3 has been a UT building since 1970. It stands at 1910 San Jacinto Blvd.
Inside its walls, a symphony of engineering ensures the campus stays cool. The building spans three floors. It has a gross area of 16664 square feet.
But what exactly does CS3 do?
Think of it as a giant refrigerator for the university. CS3 houses chillers. These chillers cool water. This water is then pumped throughout the campus. It flows through a network of insulated pipes. The pipes run under the streets and sidewalks. This keeps classrooms, labs, and offices comfortable.
The University of Texas at Austin uses an extensive district cooling system. This system relies on large, efficient machines called chillers. Each chiller can cool the equivalent of 10000 average Texas homes. That’s a lot of cooling power.
The chilled water system at UT Austin is optimized live in real-time. Sophisticated software ensures efficiency and reliability.
Believe it or not, UT Austin has thermal energy storage. Two large chilled water storage tanks hold 9.5 million gallons. These tanks store cold water. The water is chilled at night when electrical demand is low. It’s then pumped to buildings during the day when demand is high. This system saves the university money and space. It avoids the need for new generation capacity.
Utilities and Energy Management uses a system called TERMIS. TERMIS is a real-time modeling system. It compares a computational model of the district cooling network against live data. This helps engineers identify potential problems. TERMIS has saved the university millions of dollars in avoided energy costs.
Optimum Energy is another platform used. It controls the operations of each chilling station. It adjusts the operating parameters of each component. This provides the most efficient whole-system operation.
The university also uses a Plant Health Index. This innovative solution helps identify equipment failure in advance. It improves operational excellence.
Clay Looney is the primary building manager. Ryan Thompson is the backup building manager. David Madole is the primary engineer. Josh Lambert is the alternate engineer. Ron Gil is the inspector.
CS3 plays a vital role in keeping UT Austin running smoothly. It ensures a comfortable learning and working environment. It is a testament to the university’s commitment to efficiency and sustainability.
Next time you feel that cool air conditioning on a hot Texas day remember Central Chilling Station No. 3. It’s working hard behind the scenes.