The multi-stage project involved close cooperation

During the multi-stage project, Caverion was constantly engaged in close cooperation with kW-set. Caverion was responsible for the supply of electricity between backup power containers and the main distribution board, as well as the installation of cables. Before the final delivery of containers, kW-set’s personnel visited the site to inspect the locations and agree on the placement of the containers. 

“When the containers arrived, they were lowered into place together by joining our forces. After that, kW-set’s mechanics arrived to connect them,” Vänninen says. 

During the early stages of the project, it was important to ensure that the system will also work when the hospital is completed. As the hospital was still in the construction phase, additional loads had to be ordered from kW-set. 

“Already in the first phase of the project, we wanted to simulate what would happen if a power outage struck the hospital while it is running. kW-set provided us with additional loads to ensure that the system works in a real-life situation,” he continues. 

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A backup power generator ensures the distribution of electricity at the welfare centre in exceptional situations 

During autumn 2020 and spring 2021, a new landmark, the log-structured Welfare Centre Pirtti, rose in the centre of Pudasjärvi, in which kW-set delivered a backup power unit. Its box beam-framed container is a more easily customisable alternative compared to the typical shipping container solution. 

Pirtti, a new log-structured welfare centre in Pudasjärvi, is a genuine meeting place for people living in the town. In addition to the health centre and other social welfare and healthcare services, the 10,000-square-metre building houses a library, youth and employment services, various cultural activities, as well as auditorium, meeting and business facilities. 

kW-set was responsible for the backup power delivery for the welfare centre, securing the supply of electricity in the building in the event of any power outages. The project was carried out based on a solution model in which the backup power container frame is made of box beams. 

The backup power unit ordered through Sähkö-Polar, the electrical contractor for the welfare centre, arrived at kW-set facilities in Tuusula in January 2021. Before that, kW-set had demonstrated its backup power design solution to the building designer and electrical contractor, who approved it. The construction of the container had already been started at the beginning of the year. “The backup power system consists of a broad range of components: a container, a backup power unit, a fuel tank, a circuit breaker and a control centre, as well as wiring between them, lighting, radiators, and the list goes on,” says Kaarlo Valli, Sales Manager at kW-set. 

After Easter, the unit underwent a factory acceptance test to ensure that it is the correct unit for the purpose for which it is intended. 

In backup power deliveries, the detailed delivery content varies depending on the destination. The most important task of backup power generation at the welfare centre is, through its operational readiness, to guarantee the uninterrupted operation of hospital and other healthcare services, including in crisis and emergency situations. “Of course, other services are equally secured. There may be incidents in which the aim is to ensure the sufficiency of electricity generation,” says Valli. 

“The backup power delivery to the Pudasjärvi Welfare Centre is the only one of its kind,” Kaarlo Valli says. The delivery covered the sound level requirements set for a 460 kVA open frame container-installed backup power unit, as well as its commissioning and later maintenance services. 

According to Valli, this was a special location with a high level of requirements from the design point of view. “We had to find the correct solution for it, and we ended up in a container with a box beam frame. We were able to offer the best possible detailed solution in the most technologically and financially sensible way, without making any compromises over quality.” 

Sähkö-Polar has worked with kW-set in a few other locations in addition to the welfare centre. According to Sähkö-Polar’s supervisor Sauli Komulainen, the backup power delivery in Pudasjärvi went “easily and well” as in previous projects. “According to the document, the unit has been designed, built, delivered and commissioned. This is an easy solution for the contractor.” 

The welfare centre received its carefully designed and customised backup power system exactly as requested.
“Backup power must always be implemented in such a way that it is ultimately the last system that runs in the location in question, even if everything else stops working,” Kaarlo Valli says in summary. 

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Backup power secures the operation of the entire health centre at a critical moment

The backup power unit at the new Hollola health centre also secures the operation of the entire centre during any power outages. In accordance with the requirements set by the new site, the backup power unit has an output of 400 kW, in addition to which it has a 1,500-litre fuel tank. The site’s backup power unit was installed in a 20-foot shipping container which, as a solution, enabled effective soundproofing and ventilation. According to Lauri, the solution designed by kW-set responded excellently to the needs of the Hollola health centre. 

“We decided to acquire the backup power unit from kW-set because it was easy for us to rely on their expertise as a domestic company. Specialists from kW-set installed the backup power unit with solid professionalism which allowed us to direct our resources at other parts of the project. During the design phase, we went through 3D modelling together and solved implementation challenges, as a result of which the outcome was very successful,” Lauri says. 

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The output of Oulu University Hospital’s backup power system quadrupled 

Backup power units at Oulu University Hospital secure a growing number of systems after an expansion. The backup power solution built by kW-set will keep the hospital in operation even during a longer power outage.

Oulu University Hospital is expanding one new building at a time. Alliance A and B of the OYS 2030 project were completed in summer 2023, and the hospital received a much more comprehensive backup power system. Demand for backup power has evolved alongside medicine. 

“Backup power was earlier used only to secure life-support and security systems, but now backup power also supplies electricity to telecommunications networks, security systems and data connections, including the hospital’s internal mobile network,” says Mika Joona, a specialist in electrical engineering in the wellbeing services county of North Ostrobothnia. 

“Many important building systems such as air conditioning, cooling and compressed air have also been secured with backup power,” says Sauli Kurttila, project manager in electrical engineering in the wellbeing services county. 

The hospital’s backup power output will increase fourfold from about 2 MW to 8 MW. According to Kurttila, the hospital will remain fully operational even during a longer power outage. 

“Previously, the aim was to finish any surgical operations in progress using backup power. Now, even a new operation can be started during a power outage, and imaging is also possible.” 

Backup power is connected to several building systems 

kW-set was responsible for the backup power delivery for Alliance A and B as part of Caverion Finland Oy’s electricity contract. Caverion’s Project Manager Tapio Hannus has already worked with kW-set in similar deliveries for the central hospitals of Kainuu and Seinäjoki. 

“Our personal chemistries were a really good match this time as well. The backup power unit project for buildings A and B was larger than average and therefore also more demanding.” 

According to Kaarlo Valli, Sales Manager at kW-set, the technical requirements and interfaces with the hospital’s electrical and HVAC systems had been defined excellently in the backup power plan prepared by Granlund. Backup power units are connected to several different systems mechanically and physically through exhaust piping, electrical cabling and the ventilation system, to name a few. 

“It was easy for us to follow the procurement document and plan each detail such as the backup power control system and the layout of the backup power room.” 

Electricity supply is secured by redundant systems 

The new backup power system differs from the previous one not only in terms of power but also in that the new system is decentralised instead of the previous centralised one. According to Kurttila, the advantage is that the hospital will never go dark. Both new buildings have separate backup power units that can supply electricity to either building. 

“The diesel generators can be connected so that a single machine supplies electricity to both buildings.” 

The control systems in the main control centre for the backup power units are also redundant. “If one control centre malfunctions in a way that prevents operations, each backup power unit can be controlled with the other,” Valli says. Each of the four units has its own control centre, and in addition to daily tanks, large storage tanks. The large smart screens of the main control centre show the state of the entire system at a single glance. 

The backup power system is connected to the UPS system. It guarantees electricity supply for 15 seconds, during which the backup power units can start up. 

The backup power units were tested in thorough test runs 

All backup power units underwent thorough factory acceptance tests (FAT) in kW-set’s facilities in Tuusula under the watchful eyes of representatives of the wellbeing services county, Caverion and Granlund, which was in charge of designing the backup power system. 

“We carried out performance tests for the backup power generators and engines using an artificial load corresponding to the hospital’s actual load, i.e. load resistances,” Valli says. 

Specialists from the wellbeing services county have high confidence in the quality of the backup power units. “Our units are clearly among the best in the markets,” Joona says. The system was a success without any compromises, and the delivery went smoothly, including transport and installation, even though the units weigh 11,000–12,000 kg each. 

The silent operation of the backup power system came as a surprise 

In a hospital environment, backup power units are subject to requirements other than reliability. Focus was also on soundproofing, as the exhaust pipes of the backup power units are located on the roof in the deck parking area right next to the main entrance. 

“While we were a little troubled beforehand about the harm caused to the local environment, there was no need for such worry,” Kurttila says satisfied. The sound levels are lower than the regular 75 decibels: 60 dB. “I was very positively surprised by how quiet the units are.” 

The backup power unit supplier is responsible for maintenance and lifecycle services 

The backup power solution was designed for a long lifecycle of 30–40 years because the retrofitting of backup power units is expensive. It was important for Oulu Central Hospital that the backup power supplier also provides maintenance services and rapid assistance in exceptional situations. 

“kW-set provides us with a maintenance organisation close to us, and other lifecycle services ensure the availability of spare parts during operations,” Joona says. kW-set is also responsible for the scheduled maintenance of the backup power units. 

The various parties to the alliance are satisfied with the content, installation, commissioning and training of the backup power solution, all of which were carried out on time. “I would recommend kW-set for its reliability and system-wide expertise,” Hannus says. 

Kurttila also states that kW-set is among the best backup power specialists in Finland. Trust has only strengthened during the project. “There have been no problems. Operating tests and acceptance inspections were carried out thoroughly, and everything that was agreed has also been done.” 

Next, cooperation between the wellbeing services county of Lapland and kW-set will continue in Alliance C: the backup power contract for building F. It corresponds in size to Alliance A and B.