Georgia Tech Branch Tours New Food Processing Technology Building |
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The Tech Student Branch toured the new Food Processing Technology Building in Tech’s newly developing West Campus on October 31, 2006. This beautiful new building houses research labs that focus primarily on the food processing industry. The dozen participating students were welcomed by Mr. Wayne Daley, the associate lab director, who is probably known to some Atlanta ASHRAE members for his work on energy conservation and solar energy. After welcoming the students, he explained the lab’s role and mission and discussed HVAC issues in food processing. Students found his comments about the critical role of refrigeration in poultry processing and the lab’s work on industrial control using machine vision to be especially interesting and were intrigued with the current work on online detection of contamination, maybe a technology with HVAC security applications. An HVAC technical program was also included in the tour. Atlanta ASHRAE member and past President Chris Page of Lincoln Associates briefed the student tour group on the desiccant based humidity control system used in the high performance environmental test chamber used by the Food Processing Technology Lab.
After inspecting the test chamber, the group took a look at the HVAC system in the building. One unusual feature in such a small building is the smoke evacuation system for the entrance atrium. The students discussed the function of the exhaust fans and the intake and exhaust dampers in smoke control and then moved outside to look at the air cooled chiller that serves the building. In the first floor mechanical room students saw the hot and chilled water pump and the gas-fired hot water generator. They finished their tour on the second floor mechanical room where they looked at the air processing equipment.
In all, a great tour and excellent pizza were had by all. The group appreciates Atlanta ASHRAE for providing refreshments, Chris Page for the technical talk, Wayne Daley for the opening comments, and Craig Fritz of the Tech Facilities Department for accompanying us and discussing the HVAC equipment. They also appreciate Doug Britton and Kristi Spivey of GTRI for helping with arrangements. Special thanks are due to Steve Bruning, Bill Dean, and Todd Mowinski of Newcomb and Boyd, who were the mechanical and HVAC consultants on this building. Todd provided some helpful engineering details, and Steve and Bill gave briefing about some technical details by phone. Finally thanks to Craig Wyvill, the lab director, for welcoming The Tech Student Branch to the facility and providing them with every necessity needed for successful presentation and tour.
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