Comfort Link Plant II, Baltimore, Maryland
Mechanical Systems: HVAC, Centrifugal Chillers & Piping Services
The Industrial Facility Project
Comfort Link®, a general partnership between Constellation Energy subsidiary Baltimore Gas and Electric Company and EMCOR Group, Inc., has been providing district cooling services to buildings in the downtown Baltimore business corridor since 1996. Its customers include federal, state, and local government buildings, entertainment and retail establishments, commercial office buildings, hotels, hospitals, religious and other non-profit facilities.
In 1998, Comfort Link sought to expand their existing district cooling service in downtown Baltimore by adding a second Plant at the corner of Saratoga and Eutaw Streets. Plant II added 13,000 peak tons of cooling to Comfort Link’s expanding downtown system. The plant features 9,600 tons of chilled water compression capacity and 27,000 ton-hours of BAC Ice Thermal Storage. The Ice Thermal Storage is contained in two, above-ground cylindrical steel tanks. Like Plant I, Plant II builds ice during off peak hours in order to meet electric demand for the day.
System flexibility allows daily changes to operating schedules to minimize spot market consumption and capacity charges.
Poole & Kent Mechanical Contractor Role
In our role as the prime mechanical contractor, Poole and Kent was responsible for the development, design coordination, and general construction of the Plant II facility. Poole and Kent’s mechanical construction scope of work included the installation of the following commercial HVAC equipment:
- (3) York Centrifugal Chillers
- (3) FES Dual Chill Water/Glycol Ice Water Screw Compressor Packages
- Baltimore Aircoil Heat Rejection Equipment
- Associated distribution piping
- Supervision of system controls design and installation
Challenges/ Achievements/ Awards
The architectural integrity of the location for Plant II required careful design and placement of the chillers and exterior mechanical components of the building. Poole and Kent assisted the Architect and Engineer in the design and layout of the mechanical systems. It was necessary for Comfort Link to provide district cooling to clients in the spring/summer of 1999. Poole and Kent maintained an aggressive installation schedule throughout this fast-track project.
| INDUSTRIAL |
| CHILLED WATER |
Client:
Comfort Link
Architect:
Ayers, Saint, Gross
Engineer:
Leach Wallace & Associates
Prime Mechanical:
The Poole and Kent Corporation
