The conservatory consists of three Horticultural domes offering different climates and over 45,000 sq ft of planting area. The domes were completed in 1967 and have been bringing different climates and their plant life to the Milwaukee area for 40 years.
The Challenge:
Retrofit a new temperature control system in the 40 year old Mitchell Park Domes. Each dome consisted of a pneumatic system to open and close dampers and hardwired switches to activate fans. This system did not offer the staff much flexibility or ease of use. Many of the old ventilation dampers were leaking and mechanical systems were not working or in bad repair. In addition, the new control system needed to be installed, while maintaining critical temperatures and humidity levels for delicate plant life.
The Solution:
Kain Energy proposed a TAC I/Net System to control;
- (36) Air Supply Units
- (80) Exhaust Fans
- (46) Fin Tube sections
- (4) Variable Volume Boxes
- (1) Chiller with pumps
- (1) Heat Exchanger
- (4) Boilers with pumps
- (113) Valves
- (359) Damper Actuators
- (3) I/NET Workstations
(Over four phases of work.)
By utilizing the flexibility of I/Net, KEC was able to add the 123 MicroRegulators (MR) and 6 Viewcons to control the needed 1900+ data points without any interruption in temperature control throughout the four phases of the project. Several temperature sensors and humidity sensors were added to each of the domes to give the staff a more accurate look at their plants environments. Each of these points are alarmed and reported back to the I/Net Workstations. All exterior dampers were replaced with new thermally broken frame dampers which reduced outside air infiltration. Five of the Twenty-Five new dampers added to the apex of the domes modulate to maintain dome static pressures during summer ventilation sequences.
The Domes staff can now access their entire building from three I/Net Workstations instead of the antiquated pneumatic system that was replaced. This gives them the freedom to change setpoints, change time schedules, or view critical alarm points all from a centralized work station.
The Bottom Line:
KEC was able to go into a well known older Milwaukee landmark and install a control system that reduced energy costs and gave the Dome's staff the flexibility it needed to control their environment. The Dome's staff can now access their entire building from three I/Net Workstations instead of the antiquated pneumatic system that was replaced. This gives them the freedom to change setpoints, time schedules, or view critical alarm points all from one of the three centralized work station. In addition KEC has off site dial in so any emergency can be check at a moments notice.
