ICS Cool Energy, a UK-based specialist in complete temperature control solutions for manufacturing processes and facilities applications, has completed a critical cooling system upgrade at the Princess Royal University Hospital.
The project at the Oprington-based hospital was completed in partnership with VINCI, an international construction company.
By installing temporary chillers during the refurbishment of the permanent system, ICS Cool Energy ensured uninterrupted cooling for the hospital’s operating theatre and essential medical equipment.
The challenge
Princess Royal University Hospital was dealing with outdated cooling infrastructure and needed a reliable and efficient replacement system to maintain precise temperatures for essential medical equipment, sensitive medications, and hospital environments.
The chiller plant’s location on the hospital roof posed logistical challenges for dismantling the old equipment and transporting and installing the new ones.
Princess Royal University Hospital was dealing with outdated cooling infrastructure
Additionally, providing a temporary cooling capacity of 1.8 MW was crucial to ensure seamless hospital operations during the refurbishment.
The solution
Given the logistical challenges posed by the rooftop location and due to the restrictions imposed on crane usage, the consultant's specification deemed it necessary to flat-pack all the chillers for removal and installation.
Vinci engineered and constructed an extensive scaffold from the ground-level compound to the roof, incorporating an integral hoist to facilitate the positioning of the equipment on site.
To maintain the uninterrupted operation of the hospital’s critical systems and operating theatres throughout the project, ICS Cool Energy leveraged its decades-long expertise in temporary cooling solutions.
With a selection of 500kW high-performance chillers readily available for hire and rapid deployment, the team quickly delivered and installed the three chillers as temporary support.
VINCI engineered and constructed an extensive scaffold from the ground-level compound to the roof
The complexity of the temporary install was further amplified by the need for "hot tapping" – attaching to a pipeline without depressurizing or disrupting normal operations – which was crucial to putting the hire chillers in place and provide immediate and reliable cooling during the transition.
For the final new cooling system, the team selected three 600kW HVAC chillers featuring R513A low GWP refrigerant, meeting the hospital’s demand for capacity, performance, and efficiency, as well as future-proofing the equipment for the duration of its lifetime.
The meticulous flat-packing process involved disassembling the chillers into their components parts, starting with the removal of fans and panelling, and safely extracting refrigerant from the system.
Each piece was carefully labelled to ensure accurate reassembly. After reassembly, the system was recharged with refrigerant, tested, and commissioned following the completion of pipefitting, fluid filling, electrical supplies, and ducting.
The old chillers were flat-packed and taken down the same way.
The result
This comprehensive approach to the project ensured that hospital operations continued uninterrupted, demonstrating ICS Cool Energy's commitment to delivering a complete and reliable cooling solution in even the most challenging scenarios and tight turnaround requirements.
Joe Murray, Project Manager at ICS Cool Energy, shared insights: “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."
The meticulous flat-packing process involved disassembling the chillers into their components parts
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."
Top image: The completed cooling upgrade project at Princess Royal University Hospital