Engineered Systems - March 2009 - (Page 20)

When it has to be stainless, it has to be A-J! The experts in stainless steel clean air systems CaseInPoint to establish its requirements for a new system. Top on the list, as expected, included safe and quiet operation, little or no periodic maintenance, and energy efﬁciency to reduce fuel costs. Says Neese, “With this old building and with the poor ventilation of the building, we needed a cost effective system that would be easy to maintain.” Durability was also important, he notes, “Kids have hit the old heaters with basketballs.” All the requirements were handily met by the energy-efﬁcient Solaronics gas infrared heating system speciﬁed and installed by Vendola Plumbing and Heating of Alamosa, CO. One thing that hadn’t changed though, Neese reveals, was the errant basketball, necessitating protective screens for the heaters. Anthony Garcia, Vendola Plumbing and Heating’s project manager, claims the low- intensity Solaronics heaters are the appropriate choice for this building because they direct the heat right at the level where people are enjoying a sports event or other activity. WARM AND QUIET Mounted above spectator areas, Solaronics heaters steadfastly maintain their preselected operating temperature range, quietly and efﬁciently beaming infrared energy that becomes warm, radiant heat as it reaches ﬂoors and people below — similar to the way the sun warms the earth. And even after the heaters cycle off, people remain comfortable because they retain heat longer. Operating on natural gas and LP gas (propane), the heaters are CSA International Design Certiﬁed to ANSI/CGA Standards. (The Moffat School’s heaters are fueled by propane.) Optimal combustion is achieved by precisely matching air and gas ratios for fuel efﬁciency, resulting in savings of up to 75% over conventional warm air blowing units. All burners are supplied fully assembled and tested. Compact, silent fans are the only moving parts. The heaters utilize a patented reﬂector design for optimum infrared dispersion and have a reﬂectional efﬁciency exceeding 90%. Each reﬂector section is constructed of Brite ﬁnish aluminum and can be precisely rotated to direct the heat where needed. Brian McLane of Air Puriﬁcation Company, Solaronics’ Colorado and Wyoming representative, points out that the heaters’ combustion systems are typically built for operation at elevations of up to about 2,000 ft. But the thinness of the air at the school’s 7,600-ft altitude required larger air oriﬁces in the heaters to allow sufﬁcient air intake for proper combustion. Also, he says that for the long runs of heater tube required to cover large areas, up to 70 ft can be utilized, with inputs rated to 200,000 Btuh.” “What a difference,” Neese exclaims. After running a full heating season with the new Solaronics system, he was able to compare fuel usage with that of past years. “Our energy savings have been tremendous. With the old heaters we were using up to six tankers of propane per year — this year we only used two.” Along with the warm, comfortable environment and energy savings, the heaters’ silent operation is most appreciated. “Now during concerts you only hear the sound out of the kids’ instruments,” Neese said. ES waste water treatment facilities, for plus: • Custom fabrication • Rush deliveries A-J Manufacturing offers a complete line of custom and standard stainless steel air distribution products, all designed and manufactured to offer durable, dependable and low maintenance performance necessary for waste water treatment facilities. What’s more, with our state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities, we can also offer you the industry’s shortest lead times for custom orders. So for continuous linear, security grilles, modular diffusers and much more, contact A-J Manufacturing today! A-J Manufacturing 800-247-5746 • www.ajmfg.com Input 13 at www.esmagazine.com/instantproductinfo Protect HVAC Coils: • E-Coat Factory-Applied Coil Coating • Insitu Spray-Applied Coil Coating 502.634.9458 www.luvata.com/electrofin Something On Your Mind? Our surveys show that our Letters section is consistently very popular. Less scientific research also shows that the average HVAC engineer feels much better after getting an observation, a compliment, or an old-fashioned gripe off one's chest. We welcome all correspondence — just include your name and business affiliation, and send your thoughts to beverlyr@bnpmedia.com. E-Coat Insitu Input 206 at www.esmagazine.com/instantproductinfo 20 En g i neer ed Sy stem s March 2009 http://www.ajmfg.com http://www.esmagazine.com/instantproductinfo http://www.luvata.com/electrofin http://www.esmagazine.com/instantproductinfo

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Engineered Systems - March 2009

Engineered Systems - March 2009 Contents Editor’s Note Back2Basics Case In Point Commissioning Building Automation HVACR Designer Tips Application Checklist Teaching An Old School New Tricks Basics For Absorption Chillers A New Haven For Sustainable Schools Glossary Classifieds Advertiser Index Tomorrow’s Environment

Engineered Systems - March 2009

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