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Problem

The Engineering and Science Research Building (E.S.R.B.) was opened in 2004 as an addition to Barrows hall on the University of Maine campus and has since made a huge impact in sensor technology.  As a result of the equipment in use for this facility, OSHA requires that 65,000 cubic feet of ambient outside air be brought into the building every minute.  This is accomplished using a series of blowers driven by 30 HP motors, the air is then heated using energy created from the combustion of #6 oil at the steam plant.  The air that is exhausted from the building is at room temperature and blown straight outside.  There is currently no means for saving heat from the room temperature air exiting the building which leaves all of the heating requirements for outside air directly on the steam plant.
Proposed solution

A highly efficient Turbocor compressor will be used to run a compact 80 ton system.  This system will be extremely effective on cold days when it will take heat from outgoing room temperature air and deliver this heat to the incoming outside air.  The heat recovery system is estimated to save the E.S.R.B. building 50% on their winter heating costs, adding up to $100,000 in savings for the University of Maine for every heating season.

This system will also be capable of running in reverse.  Running in reverse will allow the same system to cool incoming air on warmer summer days, taking some load off the air conditioning system and adding to overall savings produced from this small unit.
Compressor Module Refrigerant Flow Diagram


With help from
UMaine Mechanical Engineering Danfoss Turbocor Compressors Alcoil Heat Exchangers Henry Technologies Mueller Industries