The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) commissioned MEPIS to design of a free cooling system for the Ambulatory Care Facility equipment that requires cooling during winter. The Facility chilled water loop is connected to three (3) existing steam absorption chillers, in addition to the campus chilled water system. During the summer, both comfort cooling and process cooling are provided by campus chilled water. During the winter, when the campus cooling loop shuts down, the absorption chillers are used for process cooling. UIC/UIH requested a new design which would eliminate the use of the absorption chillers by providing a dry cooler with an indoor heat exchanger.
MEPIS’ design utilized an existing rooftop cooling platform for the new dry cooler system. New pumps were provided for the primary loop, while the existing building pumps remain for service of the existing secondary loop of the system. MEPIS developed mechanical roof and penthouse designs to show the location of the new dry cooler, as well as, pipe routing from the roof to the basement mechanical room. Electrical designs were developed for modifications of distribution, feeders, and branch circuiting for the new dry cooler.
