College Campus Backup Power Requirements
College Campuses From Large To Small Require Backup Power. This Blog Highlights How Many Colleges Rely On Generators For Emergency Power.
College campuses are divided into a few different size categories:
Junior Colleges - Often less than 25 buildings educating students to an associates level of study.
Community Colleges - Mid-sized campuses. Dormitory housing available. Many have sports arenas and extra buildings.
Large College Complexes- Campuses can be more than 1,000 acres with hundreds of buildings.
Stanford University is an example of a large college complex. Located on 8,180 acres of land, Stanford boasts a 70-acre shopping center, 700-acre research park, post office and 700 buildings. There are 50 miles of roads to connect all of the buildings together.
The University of Washington is a public research university located in Seattle, WA. It has a wide variety of study programs including many divisions in healthcare. Lecture halls, laboratories, stadiums, museums, and conference centers make up the 500-plus buildings on the campus. Many of these buildings require an uninterruptible power supply. They utilize two separate styles of emergency power supplies: Battery Bank Back-Up and an Emergency Generator.
Power Requirements at Colleges
August typically marks the return of students to campuses. Throughout the school season, most college campuses operate at or near capacity. Classrooms and administrative facilities are full, and everyone relies on power.
Safety of the staff and the student body requires emergency power during power outages. Campuses with hospitals and facilities that conduct medical research require constant power. Power-related problems like outages, brownouts, voltage spikes, and other issues such as low voltage can cause downtime and financial loss.
Colleges with older buildings sometimes have a battery bank option for emergency power. This option has been largely phased out. Batteries have a shelf life, require maintenance, and supply power for a short time only. Many schools also have events at off-grid locations and usually require mobile power for those operations.
Backup Power Systems & Role Generators Play
A complete backup power system with an emergency generator as the centerpiece (and other supporting components) is the most effective solution. A generator includes an engine, alternator, cooling system, and a control system. Engines are commonly diesel or natural gas. A backup generator combined with an Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) and an Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) all work together to provide constant power during a utility power outage when properly set up.
When an outage occurs, and a backup power system is in place, a basic sequence of events occurs:
- Utility power is lost. UPS immediately assumes the load.
- ATS senses the main outage, starts the generator up, and switches the load to the generator when ready (usually in a matter of seconds or minutes).
- Utility power is restored. ATS switches the load back to utility.
- ATS sends the signal for the generator to gradually be powered down.
- UPS switches back to charging mode.
Generator Source offers a complete line of backup generators for any power need from 20 kW to 4000 kW. We have helped provide high-quality equipment and solutions to schools and universities throughout the U.S. and Canada, and various islands around the world.
To view our low hour pre-owned inventory, visit our Used Generators page or to browse new units, visit New Generators. Our rental services also provide temporary power needs in select markets. Contact us today with any questions.
Story Summary
Why do colleges and universities need backup generators?
Colleges and universities need backup generators to:
- Maintain power for critical systems during outages
- Ensure safety of students and staff
- Prevent disruptions to classes, research, and campus operations
- Protect sensitive equipment and data
- Keep essential facilities like dorms, restaurants, and medical centers running
What areas of a campus typically require backup power?
Key areas that often require backup power include:
- Classrooms and lecture halls
- Research labs and facilities
- Data centers and IT infrastructure
- Dormitories and student housing
- Campus security systems
- Medical facilities and clinics
- Food services
- Administrative offices
How do backup power systems work on a college campus?
A typical backup power system includes:
- Generators (often diesel or natural gas)
- Automatic transfer switches
- Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS)
- When a power outage occurs, the UPS provides immediate backup electricity. The generator then starts up and takes over the load within seconds or minutes.
What size generators do colleges typically need?
Generator sizes vary widely based on the campus size and power needs. Options range from:
- 20 kW for small buildings
- 100-500 kW for mid-sized facilities
- 1000+ kW for large campuses
- Multiple generators are often used to provide redundancies and meet higher power demands.
What are the benefits of used generators for colleges?
Used generators can provide significant cost savings (up to 70% off new pricing) while still offering reliable backup power. Benefits include:
- Lower upfront costs
- Faster availability than new units
- Proven reliability if well-maintained
- Potential for resale value
How often should backup generators be tested?
Regular testing is crucial. Best practices include:
- Weekly no-load tests
- Monthly load bank tests
- Annual full-load testing
- Proper maintenance and testing ensure generators will function when needed during an actual outage.
Diesel Blog Team
| 8/27/2018 1:01:05 PM
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