Duplex chillers solve plant capacity challenge for hospital
Regions Hospital is a leading Trauma Level I hospital, recognized nationally for its programs in heart health, women's care, cancer, surgery, digestive care, seniors' services, behavioral health, burn treatment, and trauma services. In addition to its 1.2 million-sq-ft wing campus in St. Paul, the hospital also operates numerous affiliate clinics and specialty care facilities in the region.
Additionally, the three machines were using well water as a condenser cooling medium. The permit from the State of Minnesota for this application was expiring and the hospital needed an alternative method. The evaluation of the existing plant and the mechanical design for the upgraded facility was done by Michaud Cooley Erickson (MCE), a Minneapolis design firm. Their engineering analysis indicated that two of the older chillers could not be converted to conventional cooling tower operation, hence would need to be replaced. According to maintenance department manager Steve Marah, the imminent need for capacity to serve the new wing made the decision even more urgent. "It came down to three issues: losing the groundwater permit, the concern about plant reliability with aging plant equipment, and the upcoming need for more capacity to serve the new wing."