Wesleyan university

New Science Building

Dynamic Air recently collaborated with van Zelm Engineers to design and implement a high-performance Konvekta energy recovery system. This project showcases the flexibility of glycol-loop energy recovery in a large-scale, mission-critical application.

The System at a Glance

• Capacity: 135,000 CFM supply air with N+1 redundancy for both supply and exhaust.
• Configuration: 4 large Air Handling Units (AHUs) paired with 5 Heat Recovery Units (HRUs).
• Dual-Skid Heart: Located in the penthouse, featuring a main control/pump skid and a dedicated secondary skid for Free-Cooling integration.
• Integrated Reheat: Custom Konvekta loop reheat coils allow for precise Leaving Air Temperature (LAT) control during dehumidification.

Overcoming Complex Challenges

1. Bridging the Distance

The Challenge: The AHUs were separated from the HRUs and main skids by four stories. Running individual control wiring for every valve, sensor, and meter across that distance was logistically and financially unfeasible. The Solution: We engineered a remote control panel positioned near the AHUs. This localized “brain” handles all AHU-specific data and communicates back to the main penthouse skid via a single hard-wired connection, drastically reducing wiring complexity.

2. Adaptability During Construction

The Challenge: As the winter of 2025/2026 approached, the building was still under active construction. The exhaust units (HRUs) weren’t ready for operation, but the building required temporary heat to continue interior work. The Solution: Our team reprogrammed the system software to bypass the recovery cycle. By utilizing direct heat injection at the skid level, the Konvekta system successfully distributed heat via the operational AHUs, keeping the project on schedule despite the incomplete exhaust loop.

Key Differentiator: Integrated Free-Cooling

A standout feature of this installation is the Free-Cooling capability. In modern facilities with year-round cooling needs (such as server rooms or labs), the Konvekta system doesn’t just recover heat—it saves energy in the winter by:

• Using cold glycol from the exterior loop to pre-chill the building’s chilled water loop.
• Significantly reducing the load on the primary building chillers.
• Optimizing energy use by capturing “coolth” before the glycol is reheated by exhaust air.

Current Status: Success in the Field

As of January 2026, the system is fully installed and currently providing critical temporary heat for the final phases of construction. Official commissioning and full-system startup are slated for February 2026.

“This project demonstrates the sheer adaptability of the Konvekta loop—providing value through building heat even before the exhaust side was online.”