Project Profile: Promerus
The Challenge
- Provide the correct air changes and temperature control for laboratory, office and warehouse spaces.
- Proper exhaust and dilution of laboratory fumes and odors.
- Lack of usable space for rooftop ventilation equipment.
Promerus LLC is an Akron, Ohio company and a leader in cyclic olefin polymer development and production. Semiconductors and advanced electronic packaging are some of the products using this polymer. The company recently renovated a 38,000 square foot building to include chemical, development, and analytical laboratories, a clean room, and office space in addition to existing warehouse space.
The facility presented challenges for ventilation equipment. The initial plan used an existing mezzanine to install exhaust fan units. However, there was not enough space and the mezzanine was removed.
Installing rooftop equipment posed another challenge. The standing seam metal roof could not support any large HVAC units without creating emergency egress issues. Furthermore, the work had to be completed without much downtime.
Greenheck’s Solution
- (7) RV Dedicated Outdoor Air Systems (DOAS) RV
- (5) Vektor® - MD high plume dilution exhaust fans
- (6) USF utility sets
- (1) CUBE exhaust fan
The decision to use Greenheck products was solidified with the assistance of the Greenheck HVAC University Learning Center for DOAS and Energy Recovery. This mobile trailer offered a hands-on experience with products including model RV and left a very favorable impression with the engineer. She stated that it was very educational and “seeing the inner fans, motors, coils, etc., and how the different components interact with the versatile controls was impressive.”
Model RV DOAS units supply 100% outside air or mixtures of outdoor and return air. This flexibility allows for 100% outdoor air, variable air volume, and single-zone use applications.
RV units typically mount on rooftops. However, the building’s roof could not support the seven units and required an alternate plan. Model RV offers flexibility in providing side duct connections in addition to standard connections eliminating the need for costly plenum curbs to supply fresh air to the building. This flexibility allowed for placement on concrete slabs next to the building.
The laboratories used by Promerus emit a variety of fumes and odors. The Vektor-MD laboratory exhaust units offer high plume dilution. The exhausted fumes and odors from the labs dilute high above air intakes, preventingre-entrainment into any building. Reinforced structural supports allowed placement of the five Vektor models on the building’s roof, eliminating any emergency egress issues.
Proper air exhaust also required installing other fan units. These included utility sets and a CUBE fan to remove stale air from the office area and warehouse.
The Results
