Fond du Lac, WI – J. F. Ahern Co. recently received a BUILD Wisconsin Award from the Associated General Contractors of Wisconsin (AGC). The company won in the specialty contractor category for the mechanical work performed on the Arrowhead Research Facility located in Madison, WI. Arrowhead is a biopharmaceutical company who develops medicines that treat intractable diseases by silencing the genes that cause them.
The goal of the project was to create a seamless transition from two existing facilities to the current facility, giving the scientists and lab technicians a bigger work area. Over 80,000 pounds of galvanized, stainless steel, and PCD duct work was used. Ahern’s installation and CAD teams were able to work around existing systems to install air cooled chillers, roof mounted air handling units, high plume exhaust fans, high efficiency boilers, variable air volume boxes, and high efficiency fume hoods. All design, construction, and commissioning work was completed on a fast track schedule in under nine months. “Ahern’s project team did a great job for Arrowhead and is a valuable teammate to have on any project,” says BJ Galle of Ideal Builders, General Contractor on the project.
Overview
In 2015 an internationally recognized mink fur pelt manufacturer based in Sheboygan Falls, WI, contacted De Troye Electric Service , an electrical and controls engineering company based in Oostburg, WI. The manufacturer called to discuss the goal of improving its pelt drying process by retrofitting two rooms at a processing facility using equipment made in the USA. De Troye Electric Service then contacted Vyron Corporation , the Desert Aire manufacturers representative based in Waukesha, WI.
Project Requirements & Needs
Key application factors were dehumidification within a tight temperature range as well as controlled air exchanges to prevent mold and improve air quality. The equipment was mounted inside to minimize ductwork and installation costs.
Solutions Delivered
Desert Aire based the application solution on VerticalAireTM Series dehumidification systems. The units were selected to be compact and cost-efficient for the pelt drying rooms that each measure 2,000 sq ft with an average ceiling of 11 ft. The VerticalAire system controllers are BACnetTM Ethernet compatible to integrate with a Building Management System.
Desert Aire customized the systems to meet application challenges. Since the condition of supply air has a significant impact on product quality, all of the air needs to be conditioned. To ensure the supply air condition is maintained year-round, Desert Aire custom- programmed the units based on its Dedicated Outdoor Air System (DOAS) technologies. Desert Aire also used control values specific to specialty process applications.
Additional customizations and system specials include variable speed compressors with modulating hot gas reheat capabilities. These further enhance each unit’s ability to provide precise zone conditions.
Operators set a specific value for temperature and relative humidity within each drying room using a control panel interface. The internal controller translates this value into a dewpoint. This establishes the absolute moisture content in the zone to reduce hunting of the control on startup and as conditions change when operators load carts of damp pelts in the drying rooms.
The decision to spend more on the control of temperature and humidity with large load changes has allowed the systems to be stable. The manufacturer can dry pelts with more consistency and can control the varying loads. The customer reports seeing an increase in the size of stretched and dried pelts. Also, that they are getting a better product using less labor.
Project: G-1065 Thedacare Neenah Primary Care Clinic
Owner: Thedacare
Architect: McMahon Group
Engineer: August Winter & Sons
Units: Single WF Unit
Total CFM: 69,595 CFM
Sales Rep: Trevor Murdock
SAE: Chukwudi Igweze
Construction began in December 2015 on 9.4 acres of land in Neenah, WI, to house the new Thedacare Neenah Primary Care Clinic. The 73,000 square foot facility is replacing the two family practices that were established years ago on the project site. Construction was expected to take ten to twelve months for completion of the Mayo Clinic Care Network Member.
Neenah patients will have equal and convenient access to a wide variety of health care all within one new clinic with 100 healthcare providers and staff with room to expand.
The welded frame unit that is roof mounted with a stacked air tunnel allowing supply and return connections to come straight up into the unit from the main mechanical shaft will be installed. The unit has a full height service vestibule that will house coil piping, pumps, and a service sink. During unoccupied periods, the unit will be used to cool the IT/electrical loads of the building thus eliminating a separate dedicated system. The high turndown capability of FANWALL® allows this unique approach to be possible.
The Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons is a 32-story glass office Tower and a two-block-long Commons that is integrated with the company’s historic 1914 headquarters.
