The normal supply for the campus is the Union Carbide line, with the Metuchen grid line serving as backup. This means that even if the cogeneration plant were to accidentally come off line or be limited in its production capabilities, campus electrical supply would not be affected because the utility would automatically assume all load. This redundant arrangement gives the campus grid added protection against a loss of power. In addition to campus supply buses, the cogeneration plant itself requires some electrical supply to maintain parasitic loads.
Parasitic loads are equipment which the cogeneration plant needs to startup and operate.
To accomplish this, two transformers which tap directly off the cogeneration plant buses transform 13.8 Kv to 480 V, which is then used directly by the facility or is stepped down further to 240 V or 120 V for lighting and smaller loads. Several smaller campus loads also tap directly off of these 480 V buses. For questions regarding Plant Operations, Plant Tours or this Website, please contact us.