Chilled Water Plant 2 (West) – Increase Cooling Tower Capacity

Client: University of Iowa (ENGIE North America)

Maximizing capacity for existing footprint.

Constructed in 2008, Chilled Water Plant 2 (West) includes 12,000 tons of steam-based chilled water generation. Two 2-cell, concrete cooling towers provide the heat-rejection capacity for the chillers. A new cooling tower cell was constructed on thru roof of the plant and integrated into the operation of the existing two. The new cooling tower is a field-erected, concrete, counterflow cooling tower designed to cool 6,000 gpm of condenser water from 101.5 to 85.0°F at a wet bulb temperature of 80°F with minimal increase in the ambient noise level. This additional heat rejection maximizes the capacity for this plant without the need to construct a new plant or expand the footprint of the existing building.

To accommodate the new cooling tower, the building structure was reinforced to support its operating weight. The new tower was also integrated into the architectural aesthetic of the existing building and with the nearby University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.