NREL-16-020 Optimize Heat Recovery Award Number: DE-AC36-08GO28308 CX(s) Applied: DOE/EA-1968, B2.1 NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY Date: 8/30/2016 Location(s): CO Office(s): Golden Field Office
Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance
September 13, 2016
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NREL-16-020 Optimize Heat Recovery
Award Number: DE-AC36-08GO28308
CX(s) Applied: DOE/EA-1968, B2.1
NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY
Date: 8/30/2016
Location(s): CO
Office(s): Golden Field Office
The U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) proposes to make improvements to the Solar Energy Research Facility (SERF) and Science and Technology Facility (STF) heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) South Table Mountain (STM) campus located in Golden, Colorado. The proposed project would optimize heat recovery within the SERF and STF. Activities would include re-piping heat recovery coils, upgrading equipment, and replacing propylene glycol with ethylene glycol in the HVAC system.
At the STF, approximately 1000 gallons of used propylene glycol solution would be disposed of directly to the sanitary sewer. Disposal via the sanitary sewer would be permissible by Pleasant View Water & Sanitation District (Pleasant View) because both the pH and volume of discharge would be within their allowable limits. Due to contamination by small amounts of molybdenum, approximately 1500 gallons of used propylene glycol solution from the SERF would be disposed of via a hazardous waste contractor. At both locations, the HVAC systems would be cleaned and flushed with water before ethylene glycol (mixed at 40% glycol/60% water) is added. The pH and volume of discharge would be within Pleasant View’s allowable limits, allowing the cleaning water to be disposed of through the sanitary sewer.