Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is a historic facility in Kittery, Maine, near Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It is the United States Navy’s oldest operational shipyard, having seen continuous use since it opened in 1800 during President John Adams’ administration. The shipyard employs over 6,500 people who contribute to submarine modernization and repair. There are more than 60 ancillary and multi-use buildings on the premises.
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard has been the subject of numerous energy conservation efforts since its placement on the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Priorities List in 1994. CSI Engineering’s services contributed to multiple successful energy conservation projects at the shipyard.
The U.S. government partnered with CSI Engineering to mobilize numerous energy conservation projects at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. We entered a contract to perform site visits and create designs for the ancillary and multi-use buildings on the campus.
The primary focus of our work was designing heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) updates to comply with new state and federal mandates. Our goal was to update the HVAC system from one that used outdated R-22 refrigerant to a modern one with R-410A refrigerant.
R-410A refrigerant absorbs and releases heat with higher efficiency than R-22 refrigerant. The new refrigerant operates at a higher pressure than the preexisting type, meaning stronger compressors were necessary. Our design teams developed variable refrigerant flow (VRF) system schematics to facilitate the upgrade to R-410A refrigerant.
CSI Engineering designed VRF system updates for numerous buildings at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. We helped the shipyard achieve state and federal compliance by engineering VRF system upgrades that made existing systems compatible with efficient R-410A refrigerant.
First, we visited the shipyard to assess the existing system. Our consultants determined the changes that would be necessary to transition from R-22 refrigerant to R-410A refrigerant. From there, we exercised mechanical, electrical and plumbing knowledge to design upgrades to the existing VRF systems and hot water pipes across the premises. We quickly delivered detailed designs, allowing outside engineers and technicians to install the new VRF components in each building.
Our work helped improve energy efficiency within numerous buildings at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Implementing our designs enabled instant overhead cost reductions while ensuring the facility met requirements from state and federal mandates. The systems we designed contribute to federal energy conservation efforts and allow cost-effective operations throughout the year.