Hobbs Ice Arena in Eau
Claire, Wisconsin, has two
NHL-size rinks that are
cooled by twin screw-compressor chill-
ers piped in parallel on a common
glycol loop for both rink floors. Each
chiller package has its own separate
evaporative condenser.
THE ISSUE
New in 2001, the original condensers
were not originally maintained with
water treatment for the condenser
water, which led to significant scaling
and leaking issues. They were a poor
application for the location, sitting on
the ground below an adjacent roofline
which caused discharge steam to be
blown back into the fan intakes, caus-
ing them to freeze up in the winter.
"..ONE CHILLER WAS SHUT DOWN,
ITS CONDENSER COMPLETELY
REPLACED WITH THE NEW UNIT
PUT INTO OPERATION BEFORE THE
SECOND CHILLER WAS SHUT DOWN
AND THE PROCESS REPEATED."
,
The new condenser
units were placed on
elevated platforms to
ensure discharge steam
would not blow back
into the fan intakes.
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