Facilities Services Utilities

 

Facilities Services Utilities

Facilities Services Utilities manage multiple essential utilities including building automation, steam plant, water lines, chilled water lines, sewer, natural gas, heavy equipment, high voltage electricity and low voltage electricity.

 

Our Integrated Building Automation ensures continuous oversight of critical infrastructure including fire protection systems, electrical power management and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to enhance safety, energy, efficiency, and operational reliability. 

Our Facilities Services Steam Plant provides steam for heating and hot water for over 150 buildings and 8 million square feet of space across the main and agricultural campuses. Not all UT buildings utilize steam. The plant utilizes a combination of natural gas and diesel-fired boilers, along with a natural gas-fired turbine generator, to produce steam. This steam is used for various purposes, including heating buildings, providing domestic hot water for hand washing, drinking and for Fire water lines for connection, boilers and sterilizing equipment labs. 

Here's a more detailed look at the process:

• Fuel Source:

The steam plant primarily uses natural gas to heat water, with #2 diesel as a backup fuel. 

• Boilers:

The plant houses multiple boilers, including a converted coal-fired boiler (now natural gas/diesel) and natural gas/diesel-fired boilers. These boilers heat water to produce steam. 

•  Steam Generation:

The boilers heat water to high temperatures and pressures, converting it into steam. 

• Distribution:

The high-pressure steam is then distributed across campus through a network of underground pipes.

•  Usage:

  The steam is used for various purposes, including:
  • Heating: Providing heat to buildings and hot water systems. 
  • Sterilization: Used in labs for sterilizing equipment. 

 

•  Steam Plant Conversion Project:

The UT Steam Plant has undergone significant upgrades, including converting from coal to natural gas, adding a second high-voltage feed, and installing a new high-pressure gas main.

The annual steam outage is for inspection and repairs to maintain the inside of the tunnel pipe, confirming the joints can continue to expand and exercise the valves which cut on and off the steam. The outage normally last 7 days allowing them time to install new valves and joints and make any needed repairs. In essence, the UTK Steam Plant is a vital infrastructure component, ensuring the smooth operation of the university campus by providing a reliable source of steam for heating, hot water, and sterilization needs. 

There is a combination of UT and KUB owned Natural Gas facilities within the campus, with the majority being located on the hill. 

When One Call receives a report of a natural gas leak, the building should be evacuated immediately. Once maintenance confirms a leak, immediately contact 911 to dispatch the fire department, then contact KUB.

 

Heavy equipment is equipped with a full range of heavy machinery, they perform all excavation work required for both small and large-scale building developments, including trenching, grading, and site clearing. Heavy equipment stand in foreman is Logan Capps. 

 

High Voltage Electric consists of the main power sources for the University of TN. There are two large substations on campus from KUB.  High Voltage electric is responsible for the maintenance, operation, and construction of various electrical systems. These include both underground and overhead 15 and 5 KV distribution systems to outdoor lighting, and secondary electrical systems with associated systems like switches, transformers and capacitors.  High Voltage is managed by foreman Steve Bodenheimer. 

Low Voltage Electrical lines consists of both overhead and underground lines. These consists of the lighting circuits, traffic lights and crosswalk lights. Low Voltage electric is handled by the building Maintenance & Repair, foreman David Bryant. 

Plumbing & HVAC team handles a wide range of tasks, including Steam and Condensate, which manages steam distribution from the central steam plant and condensate return lines throughout the campus. Distribution of domestic water, natural gas, and chilled water. Handling the collection and management of both sewer and storm water systems. 

The Plumbing shop performs repairs for outside water leaks, maintains chillers and cooling towers.

Plumbing works with high voltage electric to locate underground lines to prepare for ground disturbances. 

Maintenance & Repairs maintains minor plumbing issues within buildings, if you need a drain or toilet unclogged contact M&R. Plumbing is under foreman Todd Curnutt, the HVAC team is under foreman Shawn Greenan.

 

 

Shop Foreman Contact

 

FAQs