Sheppard Pratt is one of the oldest psychiatric hospitals in the nation. It hosts inpatient units, day hospitals, crisis walk-in clinic and mental/substance abuse services.
Bala provided MEP/FP engineering design services for the chiller replacement within the Weinberg Building. The two existing chillers were replaced in a phased project one at a time with two new energy efficient, centrifugal, water cooled chillers.
The project included adding tees and valves in the existing chilled water and condenser water piping for the connection of a temporary, trailer mounted chiller in case of failure of either chiller. Provisions for temporary power for a portable chiller were also provided. Since the existing chillers were connected to emergency power via independent automatic transfer switches, a system of circuit breakers with a key interlock system were provided to allow the temporary chiller to be connected to the emergency power system.
The temporary chiller connections were put to use during the project when, with the first chiller removed, the second chiller unexpectedly failed. A portable chiller was brought in and connected to the temporary connections maintaining cooling for this inpatient psychiatric hospital.
The project qualified for Energy Savers rebate from Baltimore Gas and Electric for the higher energy efficiency chillers.