The Lone Figure at the Fence, the Generator Plant — The Major Equipment Arrives Plus a Look at the Co-Gen’s Control Room and Tunnels

The Lone Figure at the Fence, the Generator Plant — The Major Equipment Arrives Plus a Look at the Co-Gen’s Control Room and Tunnels

The featured image is of a lone figure peering intently through the north construction fence during his lunch hour. The azure skies highlighted the Loma Linda University Medical Center cloverleaf towers to the right and the Adult Hospital tower on the Dennis and Carol Troesh Medical Campus. As the flags waved in the gentle breeze, the staccato sounds of the hammer blows of progress seemed muted as I snapped two photos of the man behind the surgical mask. After the brief encounter, which included a mention that the first generator had been set, we made our way to our appointed assignments. He headed toward his office, where he would take part in one meeting after the other in the Zoom Room, and I went on to my next photo assignment, the newly installed generator. By-the-way, the man behind the mask with hands in his pockets is the President & Chief Executive Officer of Loma Linda University Health Richard H. Hart, MD, DrPH, the man on whose shoulders the whole project along with the pandemic crises on campus rests. During our brief discussion along the north side security fence, Dr. Hart credited and praised his “very supportive, committed and talented staff” whose responsibilities now include working with him through the extraordinary challenges facing the institution.

When I left home Monday morning on May 11, 2020, I had a good idea how I would begin my rounds. I would first check out the east side of the project and photograph the rough grade progress of work being done on the east parking. I would then move around to the north side of the project to check photograph the progress on the Galleria and Entrance Canopy. Well, my plans changed as I neared the intersection of University Street and Barton Road when I spotted a crane’s boom rising in the distance north of the Adult Hospital tower. At first, I thought the crane might be associated with the University Church construction project. That Idea was scuttled when the cranes boom was positioned beyond Campus Street on which the University Church is located. When I rounded the corner of Barton Road and Anderson Street, I could see the boom of the crane and it was near the Co-generation plant and the Emergency Generator plant. Could it be, I wondered, are they installing the generators today? The answer would become apparent as I looked down Taylor Court. My plans for the week had changed. The Generator Plant would become my single focus for the week.

The crane at the end of Taylor Court poised to make the next lift. At the time this photo was taken only two fuel pods (tanks) had been set. The crew was waiting for the next truck to deliver the final two pods.
At the corner of Taylor Street and Taylor Court, I am able to make out a fuel pod through the open door on the left.
There they were, two fuel pods (tanks) resting on the reinforced concrete pads.
Bill and one of the crew members study the plans before the last two fuel pods are installed. The stubbed out conduits in the lower right of the image are strategically placed in the exact sam spot on each of the four concrete pads.
The openings in the fuel pods (1 and 2) for the stubbed out conduit allow little room for error. That is why they needed to be precisely placed.
The second flatbed with the last two fuel pods (tanks) backs in toward the crane. At the lower right of the frame a crew is going over the plan to unload and set the final two pods. On the back of the flatbed our four (4) exhaust manifolds that will be installed on the generators.
A collage of a fuel tank install. The placement of the pod must be precise.
While the fuel pod was being set, another crew was off loading the four (4) switch gears panels a one (1) master switch gear panel. These panels will be set in the switch gear section of the plant.
The exhaust manifolds have been offloaded.
While I went home for lunch, the first of the four generators was installed on fuel pod number 1. Laborers are preparing the tarp to cover the generator.
Early Tuesday morning (05.12.20), The switchgear panels were queued up to be installed.
By the time I had arrived at the site at about 7:45 AM, the master switchgear panel (right) had already been set along with the first switchgear panel (left).
From the flatbed to the switchgear floor: The install of the second switchgear panel. At the far right is the master control switchgear panel.
Upon arrival at the Emergency Generator Plant early Wednesday morning (05.13.20), the second generator had been brought in by a low bed. The tarp had been taken off and the crane’s cables were attached. The lift was about to begin.
Early Wednesday morning (05.13.20), the second generator was delivered and installed. After the generator was set, it took considerable time to complete the installation as one of the generator anchor holes did not line up with the fuel pod (tank). After about an hour, the anchor bolt slipped in the two holes.
Under pilot car escort, the oversize enclosure for generator no. 1 arrives on site. The transport truck left Denison, Texas, where the enclosure was manufactured, on Friday morning (05.08.20) and arrived on site Wednesday morning (05.13.20).
The generator enclosure was offloaded so the crew could prepare it for the lift. Also another delivery truck needed the space to offload equipment that will be installed on top of the enclosure.
The exhaust manifold rising above the enclosure and is attached to the RYPOS filter.
The two lower images shows the inside of the generator enclosure.
While a crew was prepping the generator enclosure, another flatbed backed in with two RYPOS filter units and other equipment. The RYPOS filter is innovative designed to electronically reduce diesel particulate emissions. A unit will be placed on top of each generator enclosure.
After three attempts to raise the enclosure on a nearly level plane, the fourth endeavor worked. There was little room for error as the crane operator slipped the enclosure inch by inch down over the generator. It wasn’t until the enclosure was about two feet off of the concrete pad that I understood how important it was to have a level lift off of the ground.
Part of the generator as viewed from the west door.
The following morning, I look inside the enclosure and found three technicians inside. The top arrow points to the helmet of someone working on the base of the exhaust manifold. The lower arrow points to a laborer just out of view. When I mentioned that it looked like a tight squeeze in the enclosure, the man with his back to the camera replied: “Every morning, I work in one of these, I have to put my skinny jeans on.” Laughter from the other techs.
By the early afternoon the The RYPOS exhaust had been installed on top of the enclosure.
A closeup view of the exhaust filter anchored on top of the enclosure.
After taking the photo at grade of the generator enclosure and the exhaust filter, I was told the crane had to be moved to a different location in order to install the last two generators. The room at the right is the Switch Gear Room.
In the afternoon the crane sets up after it was relocated to the southwest corner of the building.
Four generators stood on their pads by 7:30 PM.

The Control Center in the Co-Gen Plant That Will Monitor and Kick In the Generators When and/if an Emergency Occurs

The Co-Gen plant’s control center will be crucial to the power sustainability of the new hospitals when they become operational. When an emergency occurs, the lights may flicker and with a flip of a switch on the control panel, power will be switched from the emergency generators and relayed to the hospitals on the Dennis and Carol Troesh Medical Campus.

Tony Gonzalez, the Utilities Manager of the Loma Linda University Central Utilities Plant, stands at the main control panel, where he points to a touch screen. Mr. Gonzales illustrated how by touching a labeled tile associated with a locations on campus he can see how much power usage is being consumed in real time. As an example, Tony pressed the tile representing the Loma Linda University Medical Center on the Dennis and Carol Troesh Medical Campus, he was able to give me the power usage in the building in real time. He illustrated the same when he pressed the Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital, which is also under construction.
Tony Gonzalez, the Utilities Manager of the Loma Linda University Central Utilities Plant, sits at his wall-to-wall desk as he studies one of the monitors arrayed in front of the bank of windows. From this vantage Tony and his staff see much of the equipment from his second floor control room. The main control panel is on the opposite wall to his right.

Co-Gen Plant Equipment

The following images depict some of the equipment that are housed in the Co-Gen plant. To many, the nondescript, windowless power plant located in the center of the campus is an enigma. Very few people are seen entering or exiting the building, but the few who do run and maintain the power lifeline to the campus. The Loma Linda University campus produces its own power and on occasion the plant will sell electricity to a utility company.

The turbine and boiler room.
The power plant’s own emergency generator. The switchgear and master control panel is in the background and to the center right of the image.
Another boiler on the first floor of the south wing of the power plant. This boiler is a standby and is used if and when the boiler go off line.
Another standby generator serves as a backup for the boilers. Should the boiler’s go down this generator will fill in until the boilers go back online.

The Tunnel From the Co-gen Plant to the New Hospitals

Yes Mable, there are tunnels under the Loma Linda University campus. The main tunnel entrance begins in the Co-gen plant and runs throughout the campus to all the buildings. The labyrinth goes under streets and to the buildings up the hill, the service buildings around the hill and the Drayson Center to the east. The purpose of this sections is to provide a glimpse of the utility tunnels crisscrossing the campus and to reveal the tunnel section that goes from the co-gen plant to the basement of the new hospital that is presently under construction. For safety and security reasons, I will not identify the various intersection routes that are featured in this segment.

Tony approaches the main entrance to the tunnel system that runs throughout the campus.
The field trip through the tunnels begins. Over Tony’s right shoulder, I could see that I was in for a hike.
Looking back to where our field trip began, the slope we walked down is clearly visible in the distance.
The journey continues.
At one of the intersections.
Just ahead of my guide, I saw light at the end of the tunnel.
At Last! l’m standing on the the steps, that I have stood many times. As far as I had ever been in this side of the tunnel was about where Tony is standing in this image. My goal was achieved, but Tony had other ideas. He wanted to show me the “new” section of the tunnel. So, we began our underground trek to the north end of the campus to the Centennial Complex building.
Emergency phone at one of the intersections.
What a difference! Tony explained that this section of the tunnel was build at the same time the Centennial Complex was built. Notice the walls at the right.
The steps that lead to the double doors and to the outside world at the Centennial Complex.

To be Continued

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Dennis E. Park, MA
After graduate school Dennis accepted a position at Loma Linda University. He worked there for 42 years in the areas of administration and financial management, also teaching accounting and management to dietetic students at the School of Public Health. Through the years Dennis has chronicled the growth of the campus, including the construction of the Drayson Center and the Centennial Complex and the razing of Gentry Gym. He is the author of "The Mound City Chronicles: A Pictorial History of Loma Linda University, A Health Sciences Institution 1905 - 2005." dEp 09.30.2016 🔨
2 Comments
    • Dennis Schall

    Dennis, Do you know the model number on those generators. My cousin is a diesel mechanic who works on all things caterpillar.

      • Dennis E. Park, MA

      3516C