KillingtonZone.com

Dude GFY wrote: ↑Jan 6th, '23, 19:15 We're going back to coal I heard

rogman wrote: ↑Jan 6th, '23, 18:12 Seems a bit disingenuous for Killington to keep talking about "Play Forever" while still using diesel compressors that go through fuel by the tanker truck load. Isn't it time to retire them like so many other places have? I'm wondering if we'll see additional Ingersoll Rand NX-500 Centac air compressors like the new one at the base, both at the Bear and the Snowshed compressor farms in the near future.

If the Base Camp at Bear is built, the owners of those 2.5 million dollar homes are not going to like living 100 yards from 12 or so compressors. Even now they are noisy, and it's down to 6. Some kind of noise abatement is going to be necessary. It's curious that Green Mountain Power recently put in a huge power upgrade on Bear Mtn Road: bigger poles, bigger power lines. Is something afoot? Has Killington already had discussions about this with GMP?

Regardless, it makes sense to do the upgrade now; having similar (identical?) equipment would simplify parts sparing. The fact that this design has variable output would make them more efficient to throttle back to what is actually needed. Still, the notion that there is a seasonal change over from being air limited to water limited seems rather quaint. Killington sure as hell isn't water limited right now, and that is going to continue to be the case.

The only disadvantages I see are the capital outlay required, although I suspect the return is fairly quick, and that in periods where Killington is asked to curtail power usage, diesel compressors allow them a little more latitude. They still have to move the water. I don't know, just seems like its time.

newpylong1 wrote: ↑Jan 6th, '23, 22:27

rogman wrote: ↑Jan 6th, '23, 18:12 Seems a bit disingenuous for Killington to keep talking about "Play Forever" while still using diesel compressors that go through fuel by the tanker truck load. Isn't it time to retire them like so many other places have? I'm wondering if we'll see additional Ingersoll Rand NX-500 Centac air compressors like the new one at the base, both at the Bear and the Snowshed compressor farms in the near future.

If the Base Camp at Bear is built, the owners of those 2.5 million dollar homes are not going to like living 100 yards from 12 or so compressors. Even now they are noisy, and it's down to 6. Some kind of noise abatement is going to be necessary. It's curious that Green Mountain Power recently put in a huge power upgrade on Bear Mtn Road: bigger poles, bigger power lines. Is something afoot? Has Killington already had discussions about this with GMP?

Regardless, it makes sense to do the upgrade now; having similar (identical?) equipment would simplify parts sparing. The fact that this design has variable output would make them more efficient to throttle back to what is actually needed. Still, the notion that there is a seasonal change over from being air limited to water limited seems rather quaint. Killington sure as hell isn't water limited right now, and that is going to continue to be the case.

The only disadvantages I see are the capital outlay required, although I suspect the return is fairly quick, and that in periods where Killington is asked to curtail power usage, diesel compressors allow them a little more latitude. They still have to move the water. I don't know, just seems like its time.

Some good points but they will be water limited as soon as the wet bulb drops. Reliable and efficient water distribution is the larger issue at K, not air.

Mister Moose wrote: ↑Jan 6th, '23, 23:37 They run the rental diesel compressors from mid October to December, with some hanging around through January. Call it an average of 75 days. How are you possibly going to make a case for buying something you use 20% of the year?

iRock wrote: ↑Jan 6th, '23, 22:33

newpylong1 wrote: ↑Jan 6th, '23, 22:27

rogman wrote: ↑Jan 6th, '23, 18:12 Seems a bit disingenuous for Killington to keep talking about "Play Forever" while still using diesel compressors that go through fuel by the tanker truck load. Isn't it time to retire them like so many other places have? I'm wondering if we'll see additional Ingersoll Rand NX-500 Centac air compressors like the new one at the base, both at the Bear and the Snowshed compressor farms in the near future.

If the Base Camp at Bear is built, the owners of those 2.5 million dollar homes are not going to like living 100 yards from 12 or so compressors. Even now they are noisy, and it's down to 6. Some kind of noise abatement is going to be necessary. It's curious that Green Mountain Power recently put in a huge power upgrade on Bear Mtn Road: bigger poles, bigger power lines. Is something afoot? Has Killington already had discussions about this with GMP?

Regardless, it makes sense to do the upgrade now; having similar (identical?) equipment would simplify parts sparing. The fact that this design has variable output would make them more efficient to throttle back to what is actually needed. Still, the notion that there is a seasonal change over from being air limited to water limited seems rather quaint. Killington sure as hell isn't water limited right now, and that is going to continue to be the case.

The only disadvantages I see are the capital outlay required, although I suspect the return is fairly quick, and that in periods where Killington is asked to curtail power usage, diesel compressors allow them a little more latitude. They still have to move the water. I don't know, just seems like its time.

Some good points but they will be water limited as soon as the wet bulb drops. Reliable and efficient water distribution is the larger issue at K, not air.

The airlines also leak too... fix the water lines and let the air ones rot in places (getting ambitious here- Needle's, Snowshed, OL, Wildfire, Bunny). Less sh*t to fix in the future.

newpylong1 wrote: ↑Jan 7th, '23, 07:15 AFAIK the NX500s are in the neighborhood of $200K/a piece and then you need the associated cooling systems (not for the air, for the compressors itself) which consist of either using water or glycol loops.

Ideally in a perfect world this is all they'd have but I have been told there are capacity limits in term of power into the Basin and Bear which was traditionally limited electrical capacity.

The rentals do allow for burstable capacity with a low cost of ownership (but high usage cost) when they need for only as long as they need it. It also allows them to get around curtailment somewhat.

I do think the usage of more fans in high traffic areas (like they've been doing) and the continued usage (and additional of fixed) Low E equipment will go a long way towards taming the compressed air usage and thus the reduction of some rental units across the board.

rogman wrote: ↑Jan 7th, '23, 07:23

newpylong1 wrote: ↑Jan 7th, '23, 07:15 AFAIK the NX500s are in the neighborhood of $200K/a piece and then you need the associated cooling systems (not for the air, for the compressors itself) which consist of either using water or glycol loops.

Ideally in a perfect world this is all they'd have but I have been told there are capacity limits in term of power into the Basin and Bear which was traditionally limited electrical capacity.

The rentals do allow for burstable capacity with a low cost of ownership (but high usage cost) when they need for only as long as they need it. It also allows them to get around curtailment somewhat.

I do think the usage of more fans in high traffic areas (like they've been doing) and the continued usage (and additional of fixed) Low E equipment will go a long way towards taming the compressed air usage and thus the reduction of some rental units across the board.

GMP just upgraded the lines into Bear last spring.

Big Bob wrote: ↑Jan 7th, '23, 07:31 Perhaps for the added real estate being proposed?