36 | Plant & Works Engineering www.pwemag.co.uk April/May 2025 Special Focus Hire Equipment The Princess Royal University Hospital, located in Orpington, was faced with an outdated cooling system in urgent need of replacement. The old infrastructure, which was critical to maintaining precise temperatures for medical equipment, sensitive medications, and the hospital environment, had become unreliable. Compounding the issue, the chiller plant was located on the roof of the hospital, creating significant logistical challenges for both dismantling the old equipment and installing the new systems. With operations needing to continue without disruption, the provision of temporary cooling capacity of 1.8 MW was imperative during the upgrade. Temporary cooling To overcome the logistical obstacles of the rooftop location and the restrictions on crane usage, the project’s specification required the chiller units to be flat-packed for removal and installation. Vinci engineered and constructed an extensive scaffold, reaching from the groundlevel compound to the hospital roof, with an integral hoist system to position the new equipment with precision. ICS Cool Energy, with its decades of experience in temporary cooling solutions, was called upon to provide seamless support during the project. With a fleet of high-performance 500kW chillers readily available for hire, the team quickly deployed three temporary units to provide uninterrupted cooling for the hospital’s critical systems. Further complicating the temporary installation was the need for “hot tapping”—a technique that allows for the addition of new equipment to an active pipeline without disrupting normal operations or depressurising the system. This process was essential for placing the temporary chillers and ensuring reliable cooling during the transition to the new system. The final cooling solution involved the installation of three new 600kW HVAC chillers, incorporating R513A low GWP refrigerant. These units were selected for their capacity, performance, and efficiency, future-proofing the equipment for long-term use in line with the hospital’s evolving needs. The flat-packing process, which was crucial for both the removal and installation of the chiller units, involved disassembling each unit into manageable components. Fans and panelling were removed, and refrigerant was safely extracted from the system. Each component was meticulously labelled to ensure smooth and accurate reassembly. Following this, the system was recharged with refrigerant, then rigorously tested and commissioned after the pipefitting, fluid filling, electrical supply, and ducting had been completed. The old chillers were dismantled and taken down in the same careful manner. Uninterrupted hospital operations The project’s success is a testament to ICS Cool Energy’s expertise and its ability to provide comprehensive, reliable cooling solutions even under the most challenging conditions and tight timelines. By ensuring continuous cooling, the hospital operations were able to run smoothly, with no interruptions to critical services throughout the refurbishment. Joe Murray, Project Manager at ICS Cool Energy, reflected on the success: “We have been working closely with Vinci and the Princess Royal University Hospital. This project was particularly challenging, with numerous logistical hurdles that the team navigated exceptionally well. Notably, this project involved both install and hire teams, and despite tight deadlines and unforeseen obstacles, we delivered the systems successfully. From beginning to end, it was a collaborative effort, and we streamlined the process by providing a single point of contact for the customer, covering all aspects – hire, office, and on-site installation.” A Vinci representative added: “Vinci’s expertise in construction and infrastructure, combined with ICS Cool Energy’s ability to provide both temporary and permanent cooling solutions, ensured that the hospital’s operations continued seamlessly throughout the refurbishment. The collaboration between our teams was exceptional, and we are proud to have contributed to such a critical and successful project.” For further information please visit www.icscoolenergy.com Keeping cool under pressure ICS Cool Energy, in collaboration with Vinci, has completed a vital cooling infrastructure upgrade at Princess Royal University Hospital in Orpington. To ensure continuous operation during the installation of a new system, temporary chillers were installed, providing consistent cooling for the hospital’s operating theatre and essential medical equipment, crucial for patient care. PWE reports.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ0NzM=