P1 Service Performance Engineering Creates Energy-Efficient Solution for Liberty Hospital

When it comes to large hospitals, the mechanical systems behind the scenes have to work extremely well, and that requires excellent engineering.

The P1 Service Performance Solutions Engineering group and Henderson Engineers completed the cooling plant expansion at Liberty Hospital in Liberty, MO, this May, but the project has been several years in the works.

Project Developer JB Ashcraft began working on the design and budget for the project five years ago with the goal of making the operation more efficient.

“The project consisted of the removal of two cooling towers, and installation of large structural concrete sump structure with steel to support new towers, with controls, piping, and electrical modifications,” Project Manager Andrew Noone said.

P1 Service put the following single-source capabilities to work: design-build engineering, commissioning, controls, pipe fabrication, electrical construction, and HVAC construction.

JB explains how P1 addressed a less-than-optimal efficiency issue with an engineered solution.

“The project was designed and developed by P1 Service Performance Solutions Engineering to provide a winter cooling plant and utilize York Mag Lev Chillers capable of using 40 degree condenser water,” JB explained.

“It is less expensive to operate a 50 HP cooling tower fan than a 500-Ton chiller,” he added. “The large amount of thermal storage allows the plant to cool the water at night to 40 degrees, which maximizes the York Mag Lev industry-leading chiller efficiency throughout the day.”

Liberty Hospital Lead Engineer Mark Boyles and Central Plant Supervisor Craig Sweem agree.

“In a healthcare facility, you need mechanical cooling in the middle of winter,” Mark said.

“We needed a solution that would allow us to operate our towers during cold weather without the continual drain-and-refill method. The P1 Performance Solutions team was able to solve this for us.”

“P1 Service did an amazing job on this project,” Craig said. “The way it works and looks are exactly what we wanted. The project success is largely due to the careful thought and planning P1 put behind it.”

PROJECT QUICK FACTS

• Concrete Cooling Tower Basin for Winter Cooling Plant
• 2 New Marley Cooling Towers
• 3 Vertical Turbine Pumps

Project Team

JB ASHCRAFT
Performance Solutions Sales

ANDREW NOONE
Mechanical Project Manager

ALEX VAN LEEUWEN
Electrical Project Manager

BRIAN HEINEN
Pipefitter Foreman

MATT DICKERSON
Electrical Foreman

RORY BRAMMELL
Lead Technician