McGill Manufacturing, based in Valparaiso, IN, had a problem
typical of 50 year-old facilities. The steam heating system,
that served both office and 166,000 square foot plant, was
antiquated and in need of major repairs.
The company could have taken the easy way out by making
repairs to the boiler. Instead, they asked Air Comfort Corporation (http://www.aircomfort.com), based in Broadview, IL, to come up with a new system design.
Design considerations included reducing operating cost
savings, improving the indoor air quality that affected both
employees and process systems, and implementing an automated
control system.
Air Comfort's solution was to install six Rapid Engineering,
4000 Series, direct-gas-fired air handlers to provide both
heat and ventilation.
"It has made a world of difference in the comfort level
inside the plant," said Ron Simko, McGill's Plant & Safety
Engineer. "We approached the purchase from both a short and
long term view."
The new system gently tempers just enough outdoor air, which
is then mixed with existing room air, to maintain a slight
positive building pressure. This assures very even
temperature distribution. When exhaust systems cycle on, the
DDC control system automatically increases the percentage of
outdoor air to satisfy the amount being exhausted and hold
the building pressure. This ability minimizes airborne
contaminants by increasing exhaust system efficiency and
enhancing the overall ventilation of the plant.
Air Comfort's vice-president, Blaz Lucas, says, "With this
system, McGill receives heating efficiency that is 20-40%
better than any other heating system. This is just one
example of the new technologies that Air Comfort is
providing to its customers."