Hi all,

 

Over the spring break, the building encountered a serious failure in a heat exchanger. It appears that we had a high temperature hot water bundle coil fail in a heat exchanger forcing steam at 240 psi into the vessel. The pressure release valve operated as designed, but the failure dumped a large amount of steam through the mechanical space.

 

As a result, we lost controllers for a number of systems in the building

 

The HVAC, Steamfitters, and Electric Shop played crucial roles in getting heat to ILSB. The Electric Shop provided power to the pumps, compensating for the malfunctioning pump VFDs and ensuring that circulation was maintained. 

 

The HVAC Shop and Steamfitters swiftly initiated the electric boiler, restoring heat to the vivarium. This step was pivotal in maintaining the required environmental conditions.

 

Furthermore, the ATS Advanced Technology Services was brought in to address the VFD problem. They successfully retrofitted some VFDs and are continuing their efforts toward full restoration, which is progressing steadily.

 

Siemens tackled the controls of the heat exchanger, resolving the issue and making the heat exchanger operable again. This critical repair facilitated heat distribution to the air handlers, ensuring effective heating throughout the building.

 

Overall, the collaborative efforts of all involved parties have been instrumental in swiftly addressing the emergency and carrying out necessary repairs. We still have additional repairs to make, but the building is now being heated. 

 

Please feel free to reach out if you have any further questions or require additional updates.