HomeMy WebLinkAbout5.A.2. Ice Arena Cooling Tower Repairs
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MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and City Council CONSE~JT
Mark McNeill, City Administrator
FROM: Joshua Barrick, Ice Arena Recreation Supervisor
SUBJECT: Ice Arena Cooling Tower Model VC1-ll 0
MEETING DATE: August 18th, 2009
Introduction
The Ice Arena Baltimore Air Cooled cooling tower model VCl-l10 is experiencing failure to
the refrigerant coil piping in the areas of heat dissipation caused by faulty piping.
Back2round
In 2001, the entire cooling tower was replaced due to the lack of regular maintance performed
on it since the opening ofthe Ice Arena. Failure was a result of calcium buildup on the
refrigerant piping and shaft bearing failure. When the tower was replaced, it contained new
technology at the time by placing fins on the refrigerant coil piping in order to dissipate heat
better and reduce water usage during the winter months when operating in air only mode. The
tower was also fitted with a variable speed drive and was upgraded in size to a larger model in
order to handle the usage more efficiently. It came with the standard 5 year warranty.
Last year the cooling tower started to experience failure to the refrigerant coil fms. The fins were
deteriorating and falling off. Where the fins have fallen off it has created a small pin hole that
under pressure and time the refrigerant leaks out. We had only two such repairs last year but this
year we have had to fix 7 small leaks and we currently have another leak. Each time we repair a
leak another leak appears with each repair costing around $1,500.00 per time. The latest leak is
becoming increasingly difficult to fix and there is no certainty that the cooling tower will not
experience more leaks. The information gathered from other arena operators, chemical suppliers
and refrigeration companies all point towards a malfunction with the metallurgy when the fins
are welded to the steel piping resulting in corrosion over time. In 2007, I did switch chemical
types for the tower from an acid to a non-acid treatment in order to alleviate this possibility in
corrosion and have taken monthly readings of the chemical used in the tower since 2001 and the
chemical has been within range for treatment.
After the last month of research it has helped me come to the decision that it is necessary to
replace the top half of the cooling tower containing the refrigerant coil piping with a new unit
model VC 1-11 0 with-out the fin technology to eliminate the possibility of fin failure. I feel that
the tower does not need the fins on the steel piping in order to run more efficient as we have
never been able to run in an air only mode in January and February do to facility usage. As a
result we have seen no added chemical and water savings.
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Recommendation
I have received two quotes for the top half replacement with one in the amount of $42,304.00
and the other for $34,180.00 from Rink- Tech International. These prices do not include the
maximum refrigerant amount of 3,300.00 to refill the new tower as we will not know the level
needed at the time of replacement. The total should not exceed $37,500.00. Funding has been
identified to come from the building fund.
Visionin2: Relationship
This insures a high quality of services to the Ice Arena. With this in mind, this action appears to
meet the following aspects of the City's vision:
Goal: Vibrant, Resilient and Stable
Strategies: Provide High Quality Services
Reauested Action
If the Council concurs, it should offer a motion to authorize the replacement of top half coil pack
BAC Model VCI-II0 from Rink-Tec International in the amount not to exceed, $37,500.00.
Funding would come from the building fund.