The Army operates and maintains about 2600 miles of heat distribution systems, many of which are over 30 years old, built from outdated designs and materials, and in poor condition. Deteriorated, outdated systems are unreliable, costly to maintain, wasteful, and often hazardous. In addition to the high cost of ad hoc system maintenance and repair (M&R), between $50 and $100 million (FY96 dollars) are wasted annually due to heat distribution system (HDS) energy losses. A single water-filled manhole can waste over $125,000/yr in energy costs.
In the past, managers of HDSs have maintained their systems by simply identifying components needing repair and fixing them as necessary. Since HDSs are hidden from view, it is difficult to inspect or assess their condition visually; they often remain "out of sight, out of mind" until gross inefficiencies become apparent, or until a catastrophic failure occurs. When such problems arise, installations often rely on expert help to assess the HDS's condition, and to select the best repair or replacement alternative. |
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