The largest Spirovent® Microbubble Separator ever built is operating at the Health Sciences Campus, Central Chilled Water Plant of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Designed specifically for high-velocity chilled water systems, this VHR3000FL 30-inch unit is capable of handling up to 21,000 GPM at an entering velocity of up to 10 feet per second with a pressure drop of only 3.1 feet. Spirovent air separators employ a patented coalescing medium that provides for unprecedented efficiency.
John Atkins, supervisor, H.V.A.C. Shop, has been employed at the University for 17 years. He stated that this unit “...was all they wanted from the original scope,” adding that “...smaller [Spirovent] units on campus totally influenced this decision.”
The 30-inch Spirovent was installed in a newly constructed plant that presently serves six buildings in the Health Sciences Campus. This system will also support several more structures currently in the planning stages. Upon completion, the facility will provide a total of 6,800 tons of cooling capacity.
Atkins further states that there have been “...no air problems since day one; no cavitation or anything.” This is attributed to the coalescing medium, which breaks up the air and water mixture and allows the air to travel up through the vessel’s turbulence suppressive static column to the air chamber and integral venting mechanism.
Spirotherm Inc. manufacturers a full line of air, dirt, and air/dirt combination separators for hot, chilled, and condenser water systems. Spirovents are available for applications ranging from 0.75- to 36-inch pipe sizes and flows up to 30,500 GPM. Spirovents by Spirotherm Inc., Glendale Heights, IL
