Project Overview:One of the obstacles at 4800 San Felipe was to change out two existing centrifugal chillers in an extremely tight mechanical room. The space available for installation of the replacement chillers and the access path were very limited making the footprint and vertical clearance of the replacement chillers paramount. This project also required the team to quickly provide the equipment in order to meet the tight project deadline. 4800 San Felipe Partners also requested that the chillers provide significantly increased efficiency over the existing Westinghouse centrifugal chillers, which were installed in 1972. Finally, the owner was concerned about the noise emanating from the existing chillers and desired new chillers with a better sound profile. In the end, HTS worked with the design and construction team to provide two (250 Ton) Daikin Magnetic Bearing Frictionless Water Cooled Chillers.
HTS/DaikinSolution:HTS selected Daikin WMC250 magnetic bearing chillers for consideration because they provide one of the smallest footprints and lowest physical profile of any chiller in this size. Because they have magnetic frictionless bearings, the sound profile of these chillers is the quietest in the industry and creates less noise than the other equipment and pumps that are also in operation in the 4800 San Felipe mechanical room. This chiller change eliminated the sound concerns and was the best fit for the space available. Daikin had recently completed fabrication of (qty 2) WMC250 for stock that were immediately available for shipment. Daikin Factory Service Office helped evaluate the onsite conditions prior to the unit delivery, and provided the owner the chance to see the WMC chillers in operation on other jobsites.
Har-Con Mechanical Solution: Upon being given the go ahead to proceed with this chiller change out contract on Friday 12/10/2010, Har-Con Mechanical immediately purchased the available stock WMC250 chillers (by cutting a check to McQuay that same day). They received the stock chillers at Har-Con’s fabrication shop to make the necessary piping connection modifications to the McQuay Stock chiller configuration. Once piping connection modifications were completed, they manned this project. Har-Con completed the demolition and removal of existing chillers, lifted and installed replacement chillers and completed all field piping, wiring, & installation over the Christmas and New Year’s Holidays. They received the chillers on 12/17 from McQuay delivery service and had their entire scope of work completed before their 1/1/2011 deadline. This required overtime hours during the holidays, special city permits for unloading & lifting chillers into place, and constant negotiation with limited time and work space.
Special Note: The picture provided was taken by Dicky Newberry, principle at Har-Con Mechanical, from the building window as the chillers were being lifted into place. The background shows the Galleria skyline including Williams Tower. Dicky was familiar with this building because when he was an apprentice in 1974, he repaired an oil leak on one of the old Westinghouse chillers, which he was now replacing. In his words, “full circle”.
