When Joe Matthews, vice president of construction at Vista Air Services in Houston, was considering a self-contained, water-cooled HVAC system for a customer near Galveston Bay, he primarily had system efficiencies on his mind.
Here, the pressures on the occupants are exceeded only by the weight of the cooling loads. However, underfloor air proves to be a good fit for an unusual setting. Take stock of the requirements, then look for designs that can pay dividends.
One of the worst things you can do is note the capacity and replace the chiller. Have the building loads and usage changed? What about motors and cooling towers? Consider these and your part-load realities to create real long-term improvements.
The replacement of chillers for hospitals and other health care facilities are often done out of absolute necessity, and it is often avoided for as long as possible.