Boiler Plant Upgrades

Salas O’Brien provided mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering services for the high-pressure steam boiler replacement at the Buffalo General Medical Campus for Kaleida Health. The Boiler Plant provides heating and process steam for Buffalo General Hospital, Oishei Children’s Hospital, Gates Vascular Institute, and the University of Buffalo. The new boiler approximately doubled the capacity of the existing boiler within the same footprint, while improving efficiency, redundancy, reliability, and reducing emissions. The design includes a boiler stack economizer to transfer energy from the flue gas and blowdown heat recovery, utilizing it to preheat the boiler feedwater. By preheating the feed water, the boiler uses less fuel, thereby reducing energy costs and overall emissions. We served as the prime consultant, managing the work of structural, architectural, and civil engineering subconsultants for projects including boiler platforms, boiler foundations, roof loading and support, wall framing, and the installation of a garage door for access. The design team collaborated closely with the hospital’s contractors throughout the design and construction process to facilitate a successful project.