Building Type
456-Bed general hospital
Project Team
- KGH Planning Department
- KGH Plant Services Department
- Mill & Ross Architects
- Goodkey, Weedmark & Associates Ltd.
Systems Installed
- Two Trane Model CVHF centrifugal chillers
- Tracer Summit™ chiller plant management system
- New cooling towers
Here’s how Trane helped a major hospital
replace aging equipment, increase cooling
capacity and improve efficiency and comfort.
In 2002 three of the four chillers serving
Kingston General Hospital (KGH) were 30 to 40
years old with efficiencies of only 1.0 kWh per
ton of cooling capacity. Even under the best
conditions, the chiller plant was unable to meet
peak cooling capacity — on several occasions
during 2002 scheduled surgeries were cancelled
due to poor temperature control. In addition,
hospital expansions were planned that would put
even more strain on the aging chiller plant.
KGH retained the Ottawa consulting firm of
Goodkey, Weedmark & Associates to evaluate
and recommend improvements. The first priority
was to replace two of the existing chillers
and cooling towers. Goodkey, Weedmark &
Associates also recommended upgrading air
handling units and installing a chiller plant
management system to optimize plant operation
and efficiency. The goal was to complete the
work before the summer of 2003. Goodkey,
Weedmark & Associates recommended that
given the fast-track schedule, that the project
be completed turnkey by a single supplier.
Due to KGH’s previous experience, Trane was
asked to complete the project. Trane provided
two Model CVHF chillers of 515 and 777 tons
cooling capacity, replacing the old chillers for
a capacity gain of 510 tons within the same
floor area. Trane also provided a preventive
maintenance package. New cooling towers
include variable frequency fan drives for
optimum efficiency. Trane Ottawa also installed
a Tracer Summit™ chiller plant management
system to optimize chiller plant operation
for best efficiency and to communicate with
the existing automation system. All work was
completed on time, within budget and before
the peak cooling season.
According to Joel Carr-Braint, KGH plant
engineering and maintenance director, the
immediate result of the project was improved
confidence in the reliability of the hospital’s
HVAC system. With cooler temperatures the
hospital also enjoys improved dehumidification.
Carr-Braint says, “We’ve seen a 40 percent
reduction in energy use by our comfort system.
That’s very impressive.”
Established in 1838 Kingston General Hospital
is today a major facility complementing
community hospitals and other health care
providers in Southeastern Ontario. Linked with
Queen’s University in Kingston, the one-million
square-feet 456-bed hospital offers a wide
array of acute and ambulatory clinical services.
The hospital employs more than 3,300 staff
members and trains 1200 healthcare students
each year.
“We’ve seen a 40 percent reduction
in energy use by our comfort systems.
That’s very impressive.”
— Joel Carr-Braint, plant engineering
and maintenance director.