MANKATO, Minn. — At the new Horseshoe Casino Baltimore, a significant portion of the $442 million development’s energy, heating and cooling needs will be provided by a combined heat, power and cooling (CHP) trigeneration system. MTU Onsite Energy will provide Horseshoe Baltimore with its Series 4000 CHP system along with a complementary diesel-powered Series 1600 emergency backup generator set.

The equipment is being sourced and installed by Curtis Engine & Equipment, MTU Onsite Energy‘s local Baltimore-area dealer.

“An increasing number of U.S. states are now treating CHP solutions comparably to conventional renewable energy technologies,” said Romesh Trisal, senior manager-gaseous systems, MTU Onsite Energy. “Being chosen as a primary power provider to Horseshoe Baltimore signifies recognition of MTU Onsite Energy as a major provider the renewable energy solutions.”

Combined heating, power and cooling trigeneration systems produce useful electricity, heat and cooling from a single energy source – in this case, an MTU Onsite Energy Series 4000 engine, optimized for natural gas use. The system uses captured heat from the engine’s jacket water and exhaust systems that would normally be wasted, more than doubling the overall energy efficiency of a building or facility. The continuous electricity and climate control demands of the two-story Horseshoe Baltimore casino will be met by the Series 4000 CHP system with its output of 1,149 kilowatts of electricity (kWe) and 4,137,000 Btu of heat per hour.

“In addition to cost-savings, our combined heat, power and cooling system will help Horseshoe Casino Baltimore deliver on its commitment to environmental sustainability and energy conservation by reducing CO2 emissions by up to 50 percent,” said Trisal.

By utilizing the heat that is naturally occurring from the production of electricity, very little energy is wasted. The process also delivers environmental benefits when compared to purchased electricity and traditional heating and cooling, providing reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

For emergency backup power, Horseshoe Casino Baltimore selected a diesel-powered MTU Onsite Energy Series 1600 backup generator set, which is rated at 450 kWe and mounted outdoors in a sound-attenuated, weatherproof enclosure.

When it opens later this year, the Horseshoe Casino Baltimore will be the second largest casino in Maryland with a 122,000-square-foot gaming floor.

“As we learned more about the needs of Horseshoe Casino Baltimore, it became clear that the MTU Onsite Energy Series 4000 CHP and backup diesel generator were the system components that would best satisfy their needs,” said Gary Farmer, power systems engineer at Curtis Engine & Equipment Inc. “Our customers require flexibility, reliability, and efficiency and we often recommend MTU Onsite Energy products to meet those requirements. The designer, B&R Construction Services, made clear how the system was to operate under various scenarios and that it must be fully integrated with the overall facility operations.”

For more information, visit www.mtuonsiteenergy.com.

Publication date: 3/24/2014

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