San Carlos CF Chiller Replacements

SEC has been selected multiple times to provide design work for the Colorado Department of Corrections San Carlos Correctional Facility HVAC system improvements.

In 2016, SEC was selected to design replacement of the existing rotary screw water-cooled chillers with centrifugal water-cooled chillers in the central plant. This project also involved replacement of the cooling towers with new cooling towers and upgrading the refrigeration machinery room to current code requirements.

The chilled water central plant consists of two 175 ton chillers and two induced draft cooling towers with variable speed drives to replace the single speed units. SEC witnessed the chiller performance testing for each phase at the chiller manufacturer's factory.

The new chillers utilize oil-free magnetic bearing technology to optimize efficiency at 0.488 kilowatts per ton.

The design incorporates a temporary docking station, allowing CDOC to install a temporary chiller in case of an emergency.

Both projects were split into two bid packages: pre-purchase and installation. The pre-purchase bid package allowed CDOC to purchase the equipment without contractor mark-up and order the chillers while the design was being completed.