Air Handing Units

Marcus Tower, Piedmont Atlanta Hospital

Piedmont Atlanta Hospital – a 643-bed, private, not-for-profit hospital – is a leader in patient care that has helped the Atlanta community get better and stay well for more than a century.

Marcus Tower was the first project of the master facilities plan for Piedmont's main hospital in Atlanta.

Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Owner: Piedmont Healthcare

Architect: HKS

Engineer: HPD Consulting Engineers

Construction Manager: Brasfield & Gorrie

Mechanical Contractor: Batchelor & Kimball

Products/Manufacturers:

Air Handling Units/Temtrol, Fan Coil Units/Price

Supply and Exhaust Fans/Cook

The tower stands 16 stories tall, houses up to 408 hospital beds, and has 16 operating rooms, for a 22% increase in capacity. In April of 2020, the tower opened early to provide capacity for Covid-19 response.

The team of HPD Consulting Engineers and Batchelor & Kimball had worked with Tom Barrow Company on many healthcare projects in the past. Tom Barrow Company was honored to be asked to assist the project team in the design process of this flagship project.

Temtrol air handling units, Price fan coil units, and Cook fans are the basis of the design.

Twenty-five Temtrol air handling units provide the air conditioning and heating for the tower. The units are equipped with fanwall supply and return fan arrays, including redundant variable frequency drives, for system airflow redundancy; hospital grade HEPA filters; heating and cooling coils; and humidifiers. Units that serve operating rooms are additionally furnished with sub-cooling coils to deliver the low temperature air required to maintain the cool space temperatures for surgeons. All units are thermally insulated with R20 foam insulation in 3" thick double wall panels.

Air is delivered to the space through more than 500 Price Industries SDV Single Duct Air Terminals with hot water heating coils. In addition, 59 Price BCH and FCHG Horizontal Fan Coil Units are utilized to cool additional spaces such as electrical rooms, telephone rooms, stairwells, and elevator lobbies.

Cook utility sets provide the exhaust from the isolation rooms and have redundant belt drives, so airflow is maintained in the event of a belt failure. Fans provide general exhaust from the restrooms and storage areas. Smoke exhaust fans are in the operating rooms and lab areas. Additionally, special high temperature fans exhaust the hot air from the large emergency generators in the central energy plant.

“This was an exciting project to be a part of, from the integration of multiple systems to ensuring the right air solution products were selected to meet the strict guidelines hospitals must adhere to for safety,” shared Mark Lance, Sales Engineer – Atlanta branch, Tom Barrow Company.

Photo Source: HKS, hksinc.com

Nemours Children’s Hospital

Open heart surgery for children demands some of the healthcare industry’s most stringent indoor environmental quality (IEQ) requirements; however, Nemours Children’s Hospital’s new cardiovascular operating room (CVOR) far surpasses all current standards with a state-of-the-art HVAC design.

Supplying outdoor air while maintaining surgery-mandated low dew point temperatures in the inherently humid environment of Orlando, Fla., was an IEQ and outdoor air energy-efficiency challenge solved by innovative HVAC engineering and custom manufactured equipment.

The Lake Nona Medical City campus-based hospital’s new sixth-floor, 12,300-square-foot surgical OR’s HVAC was designed by consulting engineering firm TLC Engineering Solutions, Orlando, FL. The CVOR and an adjacent Hybrid OR/Catheterization Lab are the featured spaces surrounded by supplementary pre and post-operation rooms, a waiting area and patient rooms. The retrofitted area also includes a 1,090-square-foot mechanical room housing each ORs’ independent custom commercial air handler manufactured by Temtrol—division of Nortek Air Solutions, and specified by TLC Mechanical Engineer Ricardo Walker.

Both ORs were designed under Class C recommendations, the most stringent class outlined in the Facility Guidelines Institute’s (FGI) Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospitals and Outpatient Care, which encompasses many standards, including ASHRAE Standard 170 Ventilation of Health Care Facilities recommendations. Furthermore, combining FGI guidelines with cardiology surgeon requests resulted in an unconventional CVOR room temperature of 55°F. Equally challenging was surgeons’ requests for a post-operation 20-minute CVOR temperature rise of 20-degrees to 75°F to quickly warm patients.

Consequently, custom equipment is needed to provide those set points and other surgeon IEQ requests while also delivering optimum energy savings. The CVOR’s low temperature challenge is solved with a 7,000-CFM air handler featuring dual cooling coils. The primary coil, supplied by the central plant’s chilled water loop, has a 43°F leaving air temperature (LAT). A secondary glycol circuit booster coil efficiently brings the Leaving Air Temperature (LAT) down further to 34°F. “This design assures we can always provide a room temperature of 55°F and a 50-percent Relative Humidity (RH) to the CVOR and still have enough latitude if surgeons change the parameters,” said Walker, who was assisted on the specification by Temtrol’s local manufacturer’s representative, Tom Barrow Co., Orlando, FL.

• Heating the OR to 75°F within 20-minutes is accomplished with a 48kW-in-duct heater.
• The primary coil is supplied by the facility’s original 3,200-tons of water-cooled centrifugal chillers. However, the booster coil is supplied by an existing OR 135-ton glycol/water chiller.
• TLC also specified the air handlers with a total energy recovery wheel, which is manufactured by InnergyTech, which removes roughly 40-grams/lb. of moisture on a peak design day.
• Both OR air handlers are also outfitted with ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) lamps that prevent coil mold growth and disinfect the airstream of biological contaminants.
• Fan redundancy is handled by FANWALL TECHNOLOGY^®, manufactured by Nortek Air Solutions, which consists of four-fan (2 x 2), N + 1 fan wall array. Each unit also include a 99.99-percent HEPA filter which provides final filtration.
• Variable frequency drives, manufactured by Yaskawa America, help maintain the proper airflow and static pressure throughout the ORs.
• The last component in the air handler’s airstream is a humidifier grid supplied by outboard steam humidifiers.
• TLC’s OR air distribution design features 30 air changes/hr. Laminar flow diffusers, manufactured by Price Industries, surround the surgery table area in the CVOR providing laminar air flow over the patient bed, assuring contaminants are kept away from the surgeons and the patient, and drawn into low position return air grills.

ORs might be perceived as having routine requirements; however, every OR is vastly different, and every doctor has different parameters, according to Walker. Compounding these variables at Nemours is its children surgery specialty, which differs significantly from adult surgery in technique as well as IEQ. TLC took all these considerations into account, but continues monitoring their design, as it does with all building owner clients.

Lightning Source Printing Company

Ingram Content Group’s global headquarters is located in LaVergne, TN, just outside of Nashville. Renovations at Ingram’s Lightning Source printing facility, also located in LaVergne, increased humidity demand and the existing Condair (Nortec) MLP RO system’s capacity fell short.

Lightning Source Printing Company

Importance of Precise Humidity Control in Printing Facilities

Location: LaVergne, TN

Precise humidification control is a must to maintain printing paper integrity for an efficient printing operation. Sheet and web roll paper are typically wrapped to stay in equilibrium with air at a 50% relative humidity level. If this humidity level is not maintained, the shape, dimensions, and physical properties of the paper could change and adversely affect the printing process. Printing industry presses must feed paper evenly at high speeds. If the facility’s relative humidity level drops below 40%, the movement of paper on paper and other surfaces (printing equipment) will generate electrostatic charges causing the surfaces to stick together and the paper to feed unevenly which could eventually lead to a jam in the printing press.

Renovations to the print floor at Lightning Source, including the addition of new printers and the expansion of the printing area real estate, increased the facility’s humidity demand. The calculated load demand could not be achieved by the existing Condair MLP RO humidification system.

Tom Barrow Company proposed the following two options to Lightning Source:

1) Max out the existing Condair MLP RO system’s capacity and fall short of the calculated humidity requirement.

OR

2) Install a new Condair MLP RO system with enough capacity to support the required additional load demand plus spare capacity for future renovations.

Lightning Source chose option two knowing the importance of maintaining an efficient environment.

Condair’s MLP RO system utilizes RO water and a high-pressure pump with several components pre-assembled at the factory on a metal skid for easy shipment and install. RO water is a key hygienic component of the system. The Condair MLP RO system includes:

• Loose - carbon filter, twin alternating water softener, brine tank
• Factory mounted on skid - 5 micron filter, UV light, RO membrane, high pressure pump, control interface

The above water treatment components, in sequential order, are used to pretreat city water prior to misting discharge. Condair’s MLP RO system’s high-pressure pump delivers RO water through Condair’s ML Flex lines to several microscopic orifices – referred to as advanced atomized nozzles – which generate extremely fine spray of water droplets to ensure efficient evaporation and thus hygienic humidification production and free evaporative cooling. Humidity is delivered on demand based on a humidity sensor signal located in the center of the new zone.

During the initial walk through at Lightning Source, it was determined that we could use the natural draft of the new zone to our advantage by locating nozzles upstream from return air openings and allowing the draft to pull humidity across the space. The install took one week, and field labor included:

1. Customer provided 208 VAC disconnect switch

2. Condair expert piping city water - carbon filter - water softener - 5-micron filter on the skid assembly

3. Condair expert running nozzle lines throughout facility, close to the 33 ft. ceiling height, by use of a scissor lift

4. Condair expert mounting humidity sensor in the middle of the new zone and control wiring termination to control interface on skid assembly

5. Condair expert control calibration and system startup

Needless to say, the MLP RO skid assembly minimized field labor and Lightning Source was appreciative of the Condair turn-key solution.

Hurlburt 39th IOS Facility

The 39th IOS’ Mission is to provide advanced information operations and cyberspace training for the United States Air Force. The 39th IOS is housed in a state-of-the-art 22,000 square foot facility featuring several classrooms, multiple small group mission planning rooms, and a 50-person auditorium. All of the classrooms are equipped with cutting-edge communication and computer systems to include secure video teleconferencing and fiber optic infrastructures. This allows for real-time war gaming and improved instruction at multiple security levels.

Tom Barrow company was able to provide complete solutions, and every product needed for the project that was available from Tom Barrow Company was supplied.

Products – Manufacturers

• (2) Air Cooled Chillers – Quantech
• (2) Energy Recovery Units – Temtrol
• (2) Air Handlers – Temtrol
• (1) Fan Coil – Superior Rex
• (43) Terminal Units – Price
• Round & Flat Oval Spiral Duct – Dixie Sheet Metal
• Double Wall Rectangular Duct - Dixie Sheet Metal
• Grilles, Registers & Diffusers – Price
• Security Bars – Kees
• Louvers – Pottorff
• Manual, Control and Fire Dampers – Pottorff
• Takeoffs – Crown
• Flexible Duct - ATCO

The University of Memphis Music Building

Facilities that store a large number of musical instruments need precise humidity control. Many instruments, including string instruments, are made of thin wood which are easily affected by temperature and humidity. This can be a challenge when retrofitting older air handling units that, in many cases, are using outdated technology that is neither precise nor energy efficient.

Location: Memphis, TN

Owner: The University of Memphis

Mechanical Engineer: Haltom Engineering, LLC

Mechanical Contractor: Damon Marcus

Manufacturers: Temtrol Custom Air Handling Units, Condair (Nortec) Humidifiers

The University of Memphis found themselves in this situation when looking to retrofit and replace the existing AHU in the basement of their Music building. The scope of the project included the replacement of six units and the addition of one new unit, but with the strict requirement that the replacement units would fit on the existing equipment pads and match up to existing duct and piping arrangements. To accomplish this was a challenge due to the fact that the existing units were older multizone units that did not have an effective humidification system. The University also wanted to save energy by eliminating any steam generating humidifiers. They requested an atomizing humidifier, which while typically requiring less energy to run, would require a much longer AHU footprint than what the existing equipment pad could fit. One last challenge was the access to the basement, as some of the units needed to access the area through a standard door into the mechanical room from a hallway.

Temtrol’s custom AHUs provided the best solution. Their ability to provide a completely custom footprint so as to match the equipment pads, while also allowing custom openings to match the existing supply air zone duct, was a huge labor savings for the contractor. The coil sections also came with custom dimensions to match the existing connections, and by using FANWALL Technology, the unit could be sized to include more components in the air stream without sacrificing the unit footprint. Some of the AHUs shipped as “Rapid Knock Down,” assembled at the contractor’s shop with minimal screws and without sealant. The contractor marked the units based on their scheme, disassembled each section to manageable-sized components, and reassembled the units in the basement. Each fan included its own VFD, wired back to a custom panel for single point control.

When looking at the need for state-of-the-art precision humidification without using steam, the Condair (Nortec) DL system with custom RO skid was a perfect fit. The DL system is a hybrid atomizing/media style humidifier which relies exclusively on the advantages of both humidification methods of atomization and evaporation. This humidification system was therefore the first choice in terms of hygiene, energy efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. The atomizer nozzles’ low-pressure mode of operation translates into significant energy savings due to the lesser compression work, and the evaporator unit uses a patented ceramic evaporator which allows economical use of valuable humidifying water, ensuring hygienic operation. Because of the full-surface layout of the evaporation ceramics and the spray cone of the molecular atomizer nozzles, the overall Installed depth of the Condair (Nortec) DL inside the AHU cabinet could be reduced to up to 23.5 inches (600 mm), resulting in material savings on the AHU length when compared to some other atomizing/media technologies. The units required RO water, and Condair (Nortec) customized a skid-mounted unit using pumps, membranes, a storage tank, dechlorinator, and water softener for a complete system that also provided conductivity monitoring with BMS interface.

Tom Barrow Company was able to couple the two products together in a way that met the needs of both the University and the engineer on a project with challenges not unique to owners looking to update older equipment with state-of-the-art energy saving custom equipment.

Mayo Clinic Davis Building

The Mayo Clinic Jacksonville campus is the #1 Hospital in Florida according to a 2018-2019 US News and World Report. The eight-story Davis Building is the tallest building on the Mayo Clinic Florida campus. It houses many specialty medical and surgical services, as well as the Bundy Café & Atrium, the Mayo Pharmacy, and the Mayo Optical Shop.

The Davis Building had aging air conditioning equipment in need of replacement. This project had a challenge in that all of the components had to be sized such that they could navigate a narrow pathway from a freight elevator through multiple mechanical rooms and down a small hallway.

In addition, each of the Air Handling Units could only be down over the course of one weekend during the replacement. This meant that the project team had from 5PM on Friday afternoons until Sunday evenings to have the old units disassembled and removed and the new units fully assembled, installed, piped and running.

This project required a tremendous amount of coordination so that the units could be sized to meet the required performance, be able to be broken down into small enough component parts to navigate the pathway to their eventual location, fit in their final location, and have modules that could be assembled in advance and staged in the mechanical room.

Redundancy was a major concern on this project. All units were selected so that the FANWALL arrays would provide over 90% airflow redundancy in the event of a fan failure. The variable frequency drives were also provided as Redundant Variable Frequency Drive Packages so that power would automatically change over to the redundant drive in the event of a drive failure.

The team worked together to address all of the challenges and meet the requirements of this unique situation. The replacements happened in a timely manner, with each unit being replaced over the course of one weekend, and the installations were successful.

Equipment Used:

• Nortek Air Solutions - Temtrol Model ITF Custom Rapid Knockdown Air Handling Units with FANWALL TECHNOLOGY Supply fan arrays with zero net loss backdraft dampers and coplanar silencers, Electrofin coated chilled water coils, Evergreen UV light arrays, internal lighting, factory furnished casing penetrations (so that no holes had to be field cut for controls), injected foam wall and floor insulation and aluminum treadplate flooring.
• Yaskawa Model Z1000R Redundant Variable Frequency Drive Packages
• Price Model SDV Single Duct Terminal Units with Hot Water Reheat Coils
• Loren Cook Model QMX Mixed Flow Inline Return Fan

The Shepherd Center

The Shepherd Center, founded in 1975 in Atlanta, specializes in the medical and rehabilitative treatment of people with spinal cord injuries, acquired brain injuries, multiple sclerosis and other neurological conditions. It is a private non-profit hospital. In 2004, the hospital needed to expand and hired Heery International to design the mechanical system. The new addition needed to mesh with the existing facility's systems which posed a significant challenge to the design team.

Batchelor & Kimble was hired as the mechanical contractor by The Shepherd Center during the design process. Heery International and Batchelor & Kimble turned to Tom Barrow Company to provide design assistance and equipment for this challenging project.

The existing system was a cold air (47F) supply temperature design that used series fan powered boxes. The additional equipment had to be designed to match the existing supply air temperature while providing the necessary heating, cooling, humidification and filtration required by today's building codes. This design required a cooling coil leaving air temperature of 41.6F. Tom Barrow Company turned to Webco Incorporated to provide the totally custom equipment.

Tom Barrow Company, Webco and Batchelor & Kimble designed two (2) rooftop penthouse air handling units for the new addition. The units provided 100,000 CFM and 72,000 CFM respectively. The supply fans are designed to accommodate 9.72 of total static pressure. The units design supply air temperature is 42 deg F to condition the addition as well as parts of the existing building.

Tom Barrow Company was up for the challenge!

Shands AHU-19 Desaturation Coils

Blow-Through type air handlers, with the cooling coils placed downstream of the supply fan, can be problematic in humid climates when final filters (or other significant pressure drop) are downstream of the coils. The air leaving the cooling coils is typically saturated (dry bulb temp = wet bulb temp), so that the pressure drop of the filters causes further water vapor to come out of the airstream – and into the filters. This results in wet filters with shortened life or worse, a fertile place for biological growth.

AHU-19 at Shands Healthcare is a large (156,000 cfm) built-in-place air handler, constructed in a blow-through configuration and having final filters. The final filters were perpetually wet, leading to excessive pressure drop in the filters, and requiring frequent (and expensive) replacement. The solution to the problem: Desaturation coils. Desaturation coils are essentially standard chilled water cooling coils, but with additional rows on the leaving air side of the coil that are piped (internal to the coil) to route return water through these rows. No additional piping or controls are required. The warm (relatively speaking) return water serves to lift the leaving air condition a few degrees off the saturation point (dry bulb temp > wet bulb), elimi- nating wet final filters.

Fortunately there was sufficient space in the unit such that new desaturation coils could be installed (in a new coil rack) while the unit was in operation. Final tie-in/change-over of the main supply and return chilled water was made during a period that permitted economizer cooling for the short outage involved.

A Perfect Solution

Desaturation Coils work as combination cooling and reheat coils to restore your application’s LAT and humidity to the desired levels. This is accomplished through an energy and cost- efficient process on the air side and the in the water loop of the coil.

Vanderbilt AHU Replacement

Building access to mechanical rooms is often limited by narrow entry points, freight elevators, exterior louvers located several stories above grade level, and difficult pathways around existing equipment. Mechanical rooms with complex ductwork, piping, and structural members require AHUs to be designed to specific physical dimensions, often to the nearest inch, in order to maximize performance for a given space allocation. Frequently, AHUs are upsized prior to replacement to meet new building requirements.

When the 2014 budget was approved, Vanderbilt University’s Plant Operations chose Temtrol for several AHU replace- ment projects on campus. The projects included: VU Stevenson Center for Physics and Astronomy, VU Garland Hall, and VU Old Gym Fine Arts.

Temtrol’s RAPID knock-down AHUs provided the best solution for these AHU replacement projects. The AHUs shipped assembled to the contractor’s shop with minimal screws and without sealant. The contractor marked the units based on their scheme, dis- assembled each section down to manageable components, and reassembled the units in the mechanical penthouse at the jobsite. The fully-welded base rails were hoisted up via crane and brought through an exterior louver. All wall framing members, wall panels, coils, filter racks, and FANWALL cubes were delivered to the mechanical space via the building’s freight elevator.

The contractor’s previous experience with the RAPID knock-down product allowed for a smooth installation. Most contractors prefer the RAPID knock-down product offering over the traditional palletized product that ships already broken down with assembly instructions.

Expected equipment life played a key role in selecting Temtrol as the manu- facturer of choice for these projects. VU Plant Operations wanted a product that would meet their AHU replace- ment cycle of 30+ years. Temtrol’s heavy material gauges allow for longer equipment life as compared to cata- loged constructed units commonly found in the market place. The AHUs installed comprised of filters, coils, FANWALL Technology, variable frequency drives, airflow monitoring, and custom electrical panels with touch screen user interface. The 2014 AHU replacement projects were a huge success. Similar 2015 projects were provided.

UF College of Veterinary Medicine FANWALL Retrofit

The two large vaneaxial supply fans (70,000 cfm & 125 Hp each, 8.6 in.w.c. design static pressure) in the main air handler at the UF Veterinary Medicine build- ing had been problematic for several years, due to both the age of the fans and the logistics of keeping the AHU off-line to make repairs. The solution was to retrofit a FANWALL in place of the vaneaxial fans. A FANWALL retrofit, with its “building block” assembly style and customizable dimensions, permitted easy assembly into the supply fan plenum, and was built in two sections matching the existing internal dimensions of the air handler.

During a low-occupancy period for the building, one fan was kept in operation while the other fan was taken off-line and replaced with a FANWALL array. Once the new FANWALL array was installed and operational, the opposite vaneaxial fan was replaced in the same manner. While no reduction in connected load was made, the owner reports that they are now getting air to areas that previously had never received sufficient cooling, and the change to FANWALL has eliminated extended/expensive repair outages.

Emory Vision Correction Center

When Emory Hospital was ready to build a new Vision Correction Center, they chose to house it on the third floor of an existing 5-story building. The entire third floor was completely renovated to provide waiting rooms, exam rooms, surgery suites, and laser surgery suites.

As with many multi-story renovations, it was a challenge to get new air handling equipment up to the floor where it was to be installed. Ventrol air handling units were built in five modules, each module sized to fit within the weight and dimensional limitations of the service elevator. The contractor performed final assembly of each air handling unit in the equipment room.

Another challenge was the relatively small amount of available space in the mechanical rooms. To fit two air handling units into one mechanical room, one unit rests on the floor, while the other is suspended from the ceiling.

Each unit includes 2" pre-filters, cooling coil, plug fan with perforated liner for attenuation purposes, and 95% high-efficiency (HEPA) final filters.

Turner Entertainment Group

As a complement to the new production studios, Turner Entertainment Group added two new buildings to the main campus on the 1-75/85 corridor in downtown Atlanta. The new facilities were built to house all network operations previously located at the Old Turner Mansion.

As with the production studios, sound levels were a primary concern. TBCo sales engineers worked closely with the consulting engineer to select the optimum combination of fan wheel sizes, discharge openings, and sound attenuation components to meet the acoustical requirements of the facility.

Temtrol Custom Air Handling Units were selected for the project, and TBCo sales staff coordinated with McKenneys Inc, the mechanical contractor, on final configuration and fabrication of the units. Prior to shipment the CES Lab was utilized for leakage, airflow, and sound testing.

The final result was an installation of twelve Temtrol air handling units, of three different designs, delivering a total of 515,000 cfm.

Schermerhorn Symphony Center

On May 1st and 2nd of 2010, Nashville, TN experienced nearly 14 inches of rain leading to the worst flood in the city’s history. Many homes and businesses suffered terrible losses, including the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. The Nashville Symphony’s 197,000 s.f., 1900 seat home originally opened September 9th, 2006. The center was designed to be a world-class symphony hall and has been a very successful venue since its opening. The mechanical system design includes eleven custom air handling units. Of these, ten were completely submerged in the flooding along with all of the building’s electrical equipment, instruments, and organ.

Having constructed the building originally, American Constructer’s, Inc. was re-hired by the Nashville Symphony to perform flood remediation and reconstruction. ACI, in turn, hired Lee Company to remove all damaged equipment and reinstall a new mechanical system. The original system utilized single plenum fan AHUs in custom cabinets with large motors. The units serving the performance hall were all stacked top and bottom units. All of the units had to be cut out and removed piece by piece. The replacement AHUs supplied by Tom Barrow Company incorporated FANWALL® Technology for acoustical performance, space savings and for the capability of getting new custom units back into the building.

FANWALL® Technology

The original project’s acoustical requirement’s were extremely stringent and required a Performance Noise Criteria (PNC) of PNC-10 in the performance hall and PNC-30 in most surrounding areas. Acoustically, the Huntair units were designed so that they were less than the original AHU’s radiated and discharge sound power levels. Using the 4” thick panels with perforated liner to match previous unit construction and utilizing FANWALL Technology’s direct drive plenum fans, this task was easily accomplished. In most octave bands, the Huntair air handling units were 15+ dB better than the original AHUs! As a result of this better acoustical performance, over 25% of the sound attenuation that was to be replaced was eliminated from the project entirely. This in turn reduced the static pressure on the overall system.

Six of the original ten air handling units were stacked units to account for the space required by large single plenum fans. ALL of these units were reduced to a single level by the Huntair design. The gained vertical space was used for future flood remediation. The Huntair units were set on elevated structural steel that raised the base of the units six feet from the floor of the mechanical room. Turbine pumps have been installed in the space beneath the units so that this space can be used as a sump pit in the event of a future flood. Because of the reduced unit height, enough water can be removed from the building that a flood twice as large as the May flood will not damage mechanical or electrical equipment.

The ten AHU’s that were replaced are located in equipment rooms that are 20-30’ below building grade. The Huntair air handling units had to be delivered completely knocked-down so that all of the pieces could be brought in through a grated outside air opening that ran twenty feet deep. It would have been impossible to bring in motors or fan wheels to match the original units without knocking down one of the Symphony Center’s beautiful Neo-Classical exterior walls. This fact made FANWALL Technology the perfect solution for the project, since all of the fans could be brought down in their cubes individually. After eighteen truckloads of palletized equipment and approximately 6,000 man hours, the units were brought in and completely assembled in the mechanical rooms. Besides the installation benefits FANWALL Technology has provided, the owner is now realizing ease of maintenance and better building performance!

UGA Veterinary Medicine Learning Center

The University of Georgia Veterinary Medicine Learning Center (UGA VMLC) is a new state of the art facility for the Veterinary School. The project consists of five buildings, and provides students the opportunity to learn all aspects of veterinary medicine. The facility includes an operational veterinary hospital and pharmacy, as well as classrooms, labs, and barns.

Due to the large amount of outside air required, energy recovery was the main system utilized for the facility. Eleven (11) Temtrol Indoor Energy Recovery Units, with 119,375 cfm of supply air and 110,580 cfm of exhaust air serve the main buildings. Each unit utilizes Fan Wall Technology with integral “near zero loss” back draft dampers and integral coplanar silencers, supplying and exhausting air through 62 fan wall cells. Each fan is direct drive and does not have fan belts or bearings, decreasing building maintenance requirements. Since this is a teaching facility, low sound levels in the space were a design requirement.

The internal coplanar silencers decreased the sound power output from each unit, and eliminated the requirement for external duct silencers. This saved the initial first cost of the duct silencers, and increased the energy efficiency of the system. The internal coplanar silencers have near zero pressure drop, and by eliminating the air pressure drop associated with the duct silencers, fan operating horsepower was reduced and energy saved for the life of the facility. The units also contain a Total Energy Recovery Wheel manufactured by Thermotech, which recovers latent and sensible energy from the exhaust air streams. The fans are arranged in a blow thru supply-draw thru exhaust arrangement, and the wheel equipped with a factory purge, to minimize any cross contamination between the airstreams. The energy recovery wheels utilized are constructed for long life and are furnished with a 10
year warranty, including the belts and bearings. Hot water heating coils using low temperature hot water generated by an energy recovery chiller, and chilled water cooling coils provide additional heating and cooling.

A Lumalier UV Disinfection System, constructed of stainless steel and aluminum for corrosion resistance, is used downstream of the cooling coils to provide air disinfection and maintain coil cleanliness and efficiency. Flanders 4” deep, Merv 13 filters, save space within the equipment and provide the filtration necessary for LEED design.

Nine (9) Temtrol ITF Air Handling Units serve other areas of the facility that use recirculating return air and minimum outside air. Each unit contains fan wall technology, Flanders 4” deep Merv 13 filters, heating and cooling coils, and Lumalier UV disinfection systems.

Mayo Clinic Cannaday Building

The Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville is a beautiful campus in a prime location only a few miles from the Atlantic ocean. While this is a great location for a medical campus, it can be tough on outdoor equipment. In this case, the 15 year old RTUs on their Cannaday lab & office building had begun to show signs of corrosive wear & tear.

For most manufacturers, the only remedy for casing corrosion would have been complete replacement of the (6) RTUs. But with Temtrol’s Welded Frame (WF) design, replacement of corroded panels is as easy as bolt-off the old panel, bolt-on the new panel.
Bottom line: Rebuild - to “like new” condition - of all (6) units cost less than complete replacement of a single unit, and it was accomplished in (2) weekend outages without any interruption of building occupancy.

Also worth noting is that Temtrol is one of the few RTU manufacturers who can meet the wind pressure and impact requirements required by current codes for rooftop usage in a location like this.