Speed and efficiency were top priorities for Bartingale Mechanical in renovating a Wisconsin jail, and the company successfully installed a customized Daikin Applied chiller in just one week, with inmates remaining in place throughout the project. Daikin’s ability to deliver the unit on time, despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, helped the team avoid delays with using the specialized crane and contributed to a smooth and successful startup.
Originally built in 1949, the Chippewa County Law Enforcement Center has evolved through decades of renovations to meet the demands of today’s public safety operations. The three-story facility supports up to 201 inmates and plays a crucial role in enhancing community safety while providing a good housing environment for individuals in the jail.
However, the facility’s aging chiller system, primarily serving a 2001 addition to the building, was on its last leg. Facing costly repairs, the building management team chose to replace the unit entirely and extend cooling service to a portion of the building built in the 1950s. They called on Rick Anderson of Apex Engineering to design a smart, efficient solution under tight constraints, including limited space, noise sensitivity, utility rebate requirements, and a narrow installation window.
To bring the project to life, Apex partnered with Bartingale Mechanical for installation and Gary Krebsbach of SVL to identify the right equipment. Together, they selected the Daikin Applied Pathfinder® (AWV-016A), a fully configurable air-cooled screw chiller built for performance and precision.
The Pathfinder stood out for its ability to meet all the project’s requirements. It delivered high capacity, low sound output, and energy efficiency while maintaining compact physical dimensions. Daikin’s advanced selection software was used to create a customized configuration that fit the building’s existing steel platform without requiring structural reinforcement or electrical upgrades.
By optimizing the evaporator pressure drop, the team was also able to reuse the facility’s existing circulating pumps. This approach saved time and cost while minimizing unnecessary replacement of still-functional equipment.
The real advantage of the Pathfinder was its flexibility. Its modular design allowed the team to combine specific compressors, evaporators, and fans to suit the exact needs of the project. Krebsbach described this as a major benefit, calling it “a truly engineered solution that’s far superior to a typical off-the-shelf chiller.”
The unit’s performance is driven by Daikin’s Variable-Volume Ratio (VVR®) compressor and variable-speed electronically commutated motor (ECM) fans, which work together to achieve excellent energy efficiency and very low sound levels. These features made the Pathfinder an ideal choice for a sensitive setting.
While initial project bids focused on first cost, the engineering team looked further. They used Daikin’s EnergyAnalyzer 3 software to model system performance over 25 years. The analysis revealed that the Pathfinder offered significant long-term benefits. It qualified for an additional $5,000 in utility rebates and provided better part-load efficiency compared with competing systems.
The projected lifecycle cost savings of $50,000 made it the clear financial choice and underscored the importance of considering total cost of ownership rather than just the initial price tag.
The custom-designed Pathfinder chiller was installed in just one week, staying well within the project’s timeline. Since becoming operational, the unit has consistently exceeded expectations in both performance and reliability.
This project illustrates how contractors like Bartingale Mechanical can count on Daikin Applied products and software to meet demanding timelines and deliver lasting value.
For more information, visit www.daikinapplied.com.
