This project involved replacing old boilers and a CHP unit that supplied heating to Coventry University. It included installing 5 new boilers, a new CHP unit, thermal store, and connecting to a student accommodation facility. Due to a short 12 week timeframe for the work, off-site fabrication was used based on a BIM model. This allowed completion on time and is estimated to save 489 tonnes of carbon annually through improved efficiency. The project was nominated for awards and helped share knowledge with other universities.

1. INDUSTRIAL CASE STUDY
Unit 2, The Courtyard, Roman Way, Coleshill, B46 1HQ Tel: 0845 671 8271 Fax: 01675 466 571
www.envirotechltd.co.uk info@envirotechltd.co.uk
COVENTRY UNIVERSITY
Project: Charles Ward Energy Centre
Date of Project: June 2014 - September 2014
Project Value: £2.2million

2. INDUSTRIAL CASE STUDY
Unit 2, The Courtyard, Roman Way, Coleshill, B46 1HQ Tel: 0845 671 8271 Fax: 01675 466 571
www.envirotechltd.co.uk info@envirotechltd.co.uk
Project Description:- Charles ward energy centre
Work Elements:- New 6.5mw energy centre
Period of Works:- June 2014 - September 2014
Total time span:- 12 weeks including 5 week
asbestos strip out
Project value:- £2.2m
Overview:-
6.5mw of Heating load
Thermal store 34,000 litre
BIM model
NEW CHP
Revitt Modelling
Saving of 489 tonnes of carbon
off site fabrication
Temporary boiler plant for hot water
5 new 1200kw boilers
New flue system
Siemens Bons control
350kw air cooled chiller
"spill & fill" pressurisation units
Ongoing water
Carbon Reduction Measures

3. INDUSTRIAL CASE STUDY
Unit 2, The Courtyard, Roman Way, Coleshill, B46 1HQ Tel: 0845 671 8271 Fax: 01675 466 571
www.envirotechltd.co.uk info@envirotechltd.co.uk

4. INDUSTRIAL CASE STUDY
Unit 2, The Courtyard, Roman Way, Coleshill, B46 1HQ Tel: 0845 671 8271 Fax: 01675 466 571
www.envirotechltd.co.uk info@envirotechltd.co.uk
What did the project involve?
The project comprised the replacement of 5 boilers, 1 new chiller and 1 CHP unit that previously fed a
district heating circuit, and adding a further district heating branch to a local student accommodation
facility. Existing boilers were approximately 40 years old, one boiler had failed its annual insurance
inspection and the remaining four were well beyond their expected lifespan. The existing CHP unit was
12 years old, oversized, and replacement parts were hard to source. Total plantroom heating load is
approximately 6.5MW.
In addition to this, a large thermal store was installed to maximise CHP run hours and minimise
dumping. The systems pumping strategy was drastically rationalised from individual pumped circuits on
every branch (24 pumps in total) to main packaged pump arrangements, inverter driven, pressure
controlled and automatic zone control valves. The plantroom 10 years overdue a refurbishment and had
always been avoided due to the expectation that this was a project that could not be undertakenduring
a single summer break. A lengthy asbestos strip was required before any refurbishment could begin and
this required allboilers being switched off reducing programme evenfurther.
Stand out achievement
Programme was the main constraint of the project. With a maximum period of ‘heat off’ of 12
weeks and a 5 week asbestos strip reducing this to an actual plant room access time of 7 weeks, the
decision was made that the project required almost complete
off site fabrication. The plantroom was BIM modelled and the offsite fabrication produced from the BIM
model when plant room access was unavailable. Once available, only small stool pieces were required on
site to account for level changes within the existing floorslab.
Without off site fabrication and the BIM model, this project could not have been completed within the
heat off timeframe. The University are committed to a programme of carbon reduction and as one of its
largest campus boiler rooms saw this project as key to their ongoing commitment to energy efficiency.
Previously the CHP installation was oversized and as such dumped a lot of its heat. This system was linked
to a nearby accommodation block to allow additional run hours to be utilised and also involved the
installation of a 34,000L thermal store to recover heat outside of this and re-use if the following day.

5. INDUSTRIAL CASE STUDY
Unit 2, The Courtyard, Roman Way, Coleshill, B46 1HQ Tel: 0845 671 8271 Fax: 01675 466 571
www.envirotechltd.co.uk info@envirotechltd.co.uk
BIM MODEL
ACTUAL INSTALL
Used as our presentation for the 2015 HVAC Awards in March
Coventry University Charles Ward Boiler House
(BIM model and Actual Build)

6. INDUSTRIAL CASE STUDY
Unit 2, The Courtyard, Roman Way, Coleshill, B46 1HQ Tel: 0845 671 8271 Fax: 01675 466 571
www.envirotechltd.co.uk info@envirotechltd.co.uk
Environmental concerns.
The existing CHP system dumped a significant proportion of its heat. Calculations determined that the
improvements in boiler efficiency and the addition of a thermal store should save 240 tonnes of carbon
and the addition of the student accommodation block would save a further 249 tonnes resulting in a
total saving of 489 tonnes Carbon.
Improvements in pumping strategy and moving over to zone control and inverter driven pressure
controlled pumps will result in further energy savings. These are difficult to calculate, however we have
installed a significant energy metering system which over the next 12 months will monitor and report on
energy consumption against predictedusages.
Capitalizing on the projectsuccess
Due to the complexity and timescales involved with project, we took the decision to enter this project for
the 2015 H&V award for the “Building Services Project for theyear”.
To date ewe have been shortlisted from hundreds of entries and have reached the finals which take
place in April 2015
In addition to this we are able, through our relationship with the university to disseminate information
regarding this project through the Association of University Engineers (AUE). The AUE have over 200
members from nationwide universities, over 50 of these universities have existing CHP units that are
nearing the end of their lives and they would benefit from the knowledge gained from thisproject.
FINALIST

7. INDUSTRIAL CASE STUDY
Unit 2, The Courtyard, Roman Way, Coleshill, B46 1HQ Tel: 0845 671 8271 Fax: 01675 466 571
www.envirotechltd.co.uk info@envirotechltd.co.uk
What differentiates us from our competitors?
We believe what differentiates us from our competitors is our overall approach to the project from the
start. From initial interview (pre-contract award) we devised a very detailed plan and programme to
achieve the vital heat on date. Post contract start, we had a dedicated team not only on the installation
but on the project management side with a full time on site manager along with a site based
procurement team. This ensured that the tight time frame became easier to manage and achieve.
In addition, by collaborating in detail with the specialist sub-contractors, i.e. controls and electrical
engineers, we were able to ensure all necessary milestones and key dates were achieved. In addition,
the use of the BIM modelling and off site fabrication meant that we could confidently demonstrate to
the client that we could deliver what we said we would.